RD394 - The Status of 2002 Bond Projects - November 2008


Executive Summary:
During the 2002 Session, the General Assembly provided $1,649.8 million in tax-supported bonds for the construction of 311 capital outlay projects over the next nine years (Chapters 827, 854, 855, 859, 884, and 887). Specifically, this legislation provided:

• $262.6 million to complete 59 previously "frozen" projects;

• $367.8 million for 57 Virginia College Building Authority (VCBA) and Virginia Public Building Authority (VPBA) projects which were viewed as the next highest funding priority (called "Jump Start" projects). The VPBA project list had two parts: "A" projects, which were to be initiated as quickly as possible, and "B" projects, which were not to begin until all "A" projects were initiated;

• $900.4 million for 123 general obligation bond projects at state colleges, universities, and museums; and,

• $119.0 million for 72 general obligation bond (GOB) projects at state parks and natural areas.

Legislative Requirements

Chapters 839 and 888 of the 2002 Acts of Assembly designated certain requirements for the administration of this debt package. One such requirement limited the maximum amount of debt that could be issued in a fiscal year for those approved VCBA, VPBA, and general obligation bond projects (not counting the funding for the "frozen" projects) to $250 million. The legislation allowed for any unused portion of that annual debt limit to be rolled forward and added to the cap for subsequent fiscal years.

These two chapters also required the Governor to release a plan for the implementation of the authorized capital outlay projects. This plan was to:

• Be based on agency plans as much as possible;

• Provide for the orderly issuance of the bonds;

• Remain within the debt service appropriations included in the 2002 Appropriation Act;

• Account for the Commonwealth's budgetary ability to open and operate any completed capital projects; and,

• Adhere to the Commonwealth's debt capacity limits.

The Governor released his Capital Implementation Plan (CIP) in March 2003.

Several enactment clauses of this legislation require annual updates on the status of the approved projects. The annual updates do not include the "frozen" projects. Chapter 855 requires the Secretary of Finance, in conjunction with the Secretaries of Education, Administration, and Natural Resources, to provide by September 1 of each year, a periodic status report to the chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the projects and capital outlay review process until the authorized capital projects are completed.

Report Outline

This report provides the 2008 annual update. Contents include:

• A summary of the progress to date for all 2002 bond projects subject to the $250 million cap;

• A table showing the status of the cap as of June 30, 2008;

• The status of efforts to expedite the capital outlay review process (Appendix A); and

• The latest draw schedule for all of the CIP projects (Appendix B).