State Funding Facilities Standards, Guidelines

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State Funding Facilities Standards, Guidelines
Funding Opportunities

• Presented TASA 2007 Midwinter Conference
• Sam W. Lester
• Cynthia V. Hegemier-Boggs
• Cassie Huggins
• Gary Marek

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Existing Debt Allotment

• Purpose
• Eligibility
• Funding
• Corrections

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EDA - Purpose

• Provide assistance to school districts with the
  payment of their eligible existing debt.

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EDA ELIGIBILITY2006-07

• Bonds issued and a payment made on or before
  August 31, 2005
• Required sufficient I S tax collection in
  school year 2004-05

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EDA FUNDING 2006-07

• State/Local Share of EDA 35 x Total Refined
  ADA x Allowed EDTR x 100
• Local Share of EDA Allowed EDTR x (2005 CPTD
  APV / 100)
• EDA ENTITLEMENT (State/Local Share of EDA)
  (Local Share of EDA) unless IS taxes are less
  than the Local Share of EDA
• EDTR Existing Debt Tax Rate
• CPTD Comptroller Property Tax Division
• APV Adjusted Property Value

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EDA CORRECTIONS 2006-07

• To request changes to EDA debt service
  information, please submit an EDA correction
  form. This includes all refunded bonds. The form
  and applicable instructions may be found online
  at
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/eda_correctionsform_0405.doc

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Instructional Facilities Allotment

• Purpose
• Eligibility
• IFA News
• Initial Application Deadlines
• Amendment Requirements
• Key points to remember

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IFA - Program Purpose

• Assists districts with making debt service
  payments on qualifying bonds and lease-purchase
  agreements.

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IFA - Eligibility

• To be eligible, districts must
• Propose eligible debt
• Plan to make payments on eligible debt for at
  least eight years
• Submit timely application
• Levy and collect sufficient taxes to cover the
  local share of the IFA program allotment

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IFA - News

• 2006-07 IFA payments have been processed for most
  districts.
• IFA payment reports with calculation details have
  been posted online (The 2006-07 reports do not
  reflect information for payments, adjustments or
  corrections processed after November 1, 2006)
• Changes to IFA debt service information requires
  a full amendment along with supporting official
  documentation.

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IFA - Initial Application

• Funding for 2007-08 and later has not yet been
  determined
• The Request For Application (RFA) is posted on
  the IFA main web page at http//www.Tea.State.Tx.
  Us/school.Finance/facilities/ifa.Html
• UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, CONTINUE TO USE THE
  EXISTING RFA.
• The RFA is required reading for all IFA
  applicants!
• Do Not Submit Applications Directly To State
  Funding.
• The application must be received in the agency's
  document control center by 500 p.m. (C.D.T.) On
  or before the deadline (as detailed in the RFA).
  

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Initial Application cont.

• Applicants are responsible for periodically
  checking the IFA website for any postings of
  frequently asked questions (FAQs),
  additional/clarifying information, or errata
  notices.
• When detailing proposed projects (schedule 4B)
  remember if you are not sure whether a project is
  qualified or non-qualified, err on the side of
  caution. Its better to overestimate your
  qualified projects. Our office can correct
  downwards, but not upwards.

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IFA - Deadlines

• Tentative (contingent upon verification of
  funding) -500pm Friday, June 15, 2007 Round 9
• After Voter Authorization (General Obligation
  Bonds require an election. Leases require a 60
  day notice period)
• Before the Sale Date (Bonds the date the
  district prices the bonds. Lease-purchase the
  date the board trustees pass an order authorizing
  the lease-purchase contract.)

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IFA - Amendments

• All active IFA files are being reviewed for past
  current completeness/compliance
• Full amendments (including supporting
  documentation) are required to
• Report Final Official Debt Information
• Report Changes or Completion of Proposed Projects
• Report Any Change to the Debt Service Schedule
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/facili
  ties/ifa_refunding.doc

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IFA - Key Points to Remember

• Get sound financial advice
• Make application even if you think we will run
  out of money
• preserves future eligibility
• establishes priority
• Check our website for updates, FAQs and
  electronic versions of IFA forms at
  http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/ifa.html

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New Instructional Facilities Allotment

• Purpose
• Funding
• Eligibility
• Deadlines
• NIFA News

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NIFA-Purpose

• Provides funding for new campuses
• Renovations and additions are not eligible
• Provides two years of funding
• 1st year ADA on eligible campus
• 2nd year additional ADA on eligible campus
• One-year special case of district that failed
  to apply during first year of eligibility
• May be used for equipment, furniture, other
  start-up costs for new facility

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NIFA-Funding

• 1st year
• 250 x ADA on eligible campus
• 2nd year
• 250 x Additional ADA on eligible campus
• Additional ADA 2nd year ADA 1st year ADA
• One-year
• 250 x ADA on eligible campus, one year only

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NIFA-Eligibility

• Facility must be new from slab up
• May not be attached to existing building, except
  covered walkway
• Portable buildings are not eligible
• Facility must have its own
• Principal
• Accountability rating
• Campus number,
• Record of expenditures
• Attendance data

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NIFA - Deadlines

• Annual application deadline July 15
• Submit on-line application
• 1st year and One-year funding submit supporting
  documentation
• Contract or similar legal document
• Photograph of building/site
• 2nd year on-line application only
• 2nd year funding is not automatic district must
  apply
• Follow-up survey usually due in late October or
  early November

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NIFA - NEWS

• 2006-07 NIFA allotments have been made.
  Allotments are posted on the NIFA web page.
• 2005-06 settle-up is in process. Updates will
  be posted to the web at a later date.

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Facilities Standards

• Commissioners rules
• Focus health and safety
• Room sizes
• Lab requirements
• Construction standards
• Revised in June 2003
• Applicable to projects started on or after
  January 1, 2004
• Inspection/Desk Audits for Facility Requirements

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Facilities Standards Web Resources

• Web resources
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/stg.html
• Helpful links
• Certificate of project compliance
• Facilities websites

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Conclusion

• Additional information and resources are included
  on the presentation including
• Agency Contact Information by Program
• Web Resources
• This presentation will be made available online

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EDA - Agency Contact

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/eda.html
• Sam W. Lester
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• samlester_at_tea.state.tx.us

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IFA - Agency Contact

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/ifa.html
• Cynthia Valenzuela Hegemier-Boggs
• [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Cynthia.Hegemier-Boggs_at_tea.state.tx.us

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NIFA-Agency Contact

• www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/facilities/nifa
  .html
• Cassie Huggins
• [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Cassie.Huggins_at_tea.state.tx.us

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Facilities Standards - Agency Contact

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/stg.html
• Gary Marek
• [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Gary.Marek_at_tea.state.tx.us

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Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) - Agency
Contacts

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/faciliti
  es/ifa.htmlqdesc
• CURRENTLY WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS
• Sam Lester Gary Marek
• [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Sam.Lester_at_tea.state.tx.us
• Gary.Marek_at_tea.state.tx.us

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Bond Guarantee ProgramWeb Resources/Contact Info

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/bond.htm
  l
• Liz Caskey
• [phone]
• liz.caskey_at_tea.state.tx.us

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School Finance Website

• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/funding/
  sofweb3.html
• Foundation School Program
• Summary of Finance
• FSP Payment Ledger
• EDA Eligible Debt Service
• IFA Payment Report

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School Finance Website cont.

• Bonds
• Facilities Funding and Standards
• Chapter 41 Wealth Equalization
• Charter Schools