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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 Continuing Disclosure - Sewage WorksCity of South Bend, Indiana $9,345,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2010 CUSIP Base 836615 (Dated December 21, 2010) $21,500,00 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2011 CUSIP Base 836615 (Dated October 25, 2011) $25,000,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2012 CUSIP Base 836615 (Dated December 13, 2012) Annual Information for Compliance with SEC Rule 15(c)2-12 ANNUAL WASTEWATER FLOW DATA 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Capacity (MGD) 48 48 48 48 77 Average Daily Flow (MGD) 31.77 30.69 32.00 30.20 35.00 Peak Flow (MGD) 63.70 62.50 68.50 57.70 83.80 Annual Flow (MGD) 11,596 11,203 11,677 11,023 13,014 Note: Peak Capacity is 77 MGD. Source: City of South Bend Municipal Sewage Works NUMBER OF SEWAGE WORKS CUSTOMERS Year 2012 39,068 2013 39,322 2014 39,461 2015 39,763 2016 40,073 Source: City of South Bend Municipal Sewage Works LARGEST SEWAGE WORKS CUSTOMERS As of December 31, 2016 the ten largest customers of the Utility were as follows: % of Total Annual Annual Operating Customer Consumption Billings Revenue (in CCF) I/NTEK Plant 799,248 $2,281,926 6.10 University of Notre Dame 711,576 1,760,269 4.71 Noble Americas SB Ethanol 251,551 782,598 2.09 Memorial Hospital 97,734 359,863 0.96 Honeywell Aerospace Co 63,455 291,165 0.78 Laurenz Place LLC 47,760 184,609 0.49 South Bend Community School Corp 37,780 171,507 0.46 Castle Point Apts 42,810 170,864 0.46 Aramark Uniform Services 50,154 169,295 0.45 St. Joseph County Maintenance Department 45,152 168,015 0.45 Total for Ten Largest Customers 2,147,220 $6,340,111 Total Consumption for Utility 5,745,831 Total Operating Revenues of the Utility $37,383,406 Largest Customers Percent of Total 37.37% 16.96% Source: City of South Bend Municipal Sewage Works 1 CITY OF SOUTH BEND of Customers Total Number SCHEDULE OF INDEBTEDNESS Original Final Outstanding Direct Debt Par Amount Maturity Amount Self-Supporting Revenue Debt (1) Waterworks Refunding Revenue Bonds of 2016 $3,300,000 01/01/27 $3,300,000 Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2012 8,300,000 01/01/33 6,925,000 Waterworks Refunding Revenue Bonds of 2012B 3,785,000 01/01/23 2,380,000 Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2009, Series A (SRF) 427,332 01/01/30 332,562 Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2009, Series B 5,380,000 01/01/30 4,325,000 Sewage Works Refunding Revenue Bonds of 2015 27,440,000 12/01/25 24,965,000 Sewage Works Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2013A 14,765,000 12/01/24 8,050,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2012 25,000,000 12/01/32 20,890,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2011 21,500,000 12/01/31 17,295,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2010 9,345,000 12/01/30 7,145,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2009 (SRF) 3,297,000 12/01/28 2,249,643 Waterworks and Sewage Works Leases 3,325,737 Subtotal 101,182,942 Tax Supported Debt Economic Development Income Tax Bonds of 2015 $5,605,000 08/01/35 $5,295,000 Century Center Energy Conservation Bonds of 2015 (QECB) 4,167,897 05/01/31 4,145,311 Redevelopment Authority Lease Rental Revenue Bonds, Series 2015 25,000,000 02/01/37 25,000,000 Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds of 2015 31,450,000 02/15/33 29,420,000 Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2013 3,990,000 05/01/26 3,175,000 Taxable Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A 7,580,000 02/01/18 1,230,000 Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2011B 2,980,000 02/01/18 485,000 Special Program Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A (Downtown Central Development Area) 18,030,000 08/01/24 11,850,000 Special Program Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A (Airport Development Area) 10,435,000 08/01/24 6,755,000 (Continued on next page) 2 The following schedule shows the outstanding indebtedness of the City and the taxing units within and overlapping its jurisdiction as of February 15, 2017, as reported by the respective taxing units. The City anticipates making substantial improvements to the Sewage Worksover thenext 20 years as part of its Long Term Control Plan and a Consent Decree entered into between the City and the U.S. Department of Justice and USEPA. The cost estimate for the Consent Decree is approximately $600 million. The exact costs and timing of these improvements are still to be determined. (1) CITY OF SOUTH BEND Original Final Outstanding Par Amount Maturity Amount Tax Supported Debt (Cont'd.) Redevelopment District Special Taxing District Refunding Bonds of 2014 3,440,000 01/01/22 2,210,000 Taxable Revenue Bonds, Series 2010 4,980,000 01/15/19 1,340,000 City of South Bend Building Corporation First Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Series 2013 5,580,000 02/01/33 4,920,000 First Mortgage Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2012 13,595,000 02/01/23 8,265,000 County Option Income Tax Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds of 2010 6,075,000 02/01/21 2,470,000 Leases and Loans 13,048,082 Subtotal 119,608,393 Total Direct Debt $220,791,335 Percent Amount Allocable to Allocable to Overlapping Debt Total Debt City (2)City Tax Supported Debt $30,465,000 28.17% $8,581,991 114,089,291 52.85% 60,296,190 36,675,073 2.68% 982,892 Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library 2,475,000 2.19% 54,203 St. Joseph County Public Library 4,015,000 49.51% 1,987,827 12,080,000 28.17% 3,402,936 Tax Supported Debt 75,306,039 Self-Supporting Revenue Debt 875,000 62.41% 546,088 Self-Supporting Revenue Debt 546,088 Total Overlapping Debt $75,852,127 3 Based upon the 2016 payable 2017 net assessed valuation of the respective taxing units.(2) St. Joseph County (3) (3) The schedule presented above is based on information furnished by the obligors or other sources and is deemed reliable. The City makes no representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness. On December 30, 2014, the City of South Bend's Mayor, as the executive of the City, designated a portion of the City's distributive share of County Economic Development Income Tax to St. Joseph County (the "County"), pursuant to IC 6-3.5-7-15, in such amount as necessary to pay the annual debt service of 29.03% of the County's Economic Development Income Tax Revenue Bonds of 2014 ("County Bonds"), as long as these County Bonds remain outstanding. The principal balance outstanding attributable to the City was $2,386,508 as of December 31, 2016, as the City prepaid some of the outstanding principal amount. CITY OF SOUTH BEND South Bend Public Transportation South Bend Community School Corporation SCHEDULE OF INDEBTEDNESS (Cont'd) Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation St. Joseph County Airport Authority DIRECT DEBT ISSUANCE LIMITATION (CITY OF SOUTH BEND) Certified Net Assessed Valuation - 2016 Payable 2017 $2,317,096,240 2% of One-Third Thereof 15,447,308 Less Bonds subject to limitation: Economic Development Income Tax Bonds of 2015 (5,295,000) Issuance Margin $10,152,308 Population - 2010 101,168 Certified Net Assessed Valuation - 2016 Payable 2017 $2,317,096,240 Ratio of Debt Per Debt/Assessed Description Amount Capita Valuation Total Direct Debt and Lease Obligations $220,791,335 $2,182.42 9.53% Total Overlapping and Underlying Direct Debt and Lease Obligations 75,852,127 749.76 3.27% Totals $296,643,462 $2,932.18 12.80% ESTIMATED DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE CALCULATION Adjusted Operating Revenues $38,393,530 Less: Operation and Maintenance ("O&M") Expenses (14,920,525) Net Revenues Available for Debt Service 23,473,005 Estimated Combined Annual Debt Service 9,165,416 Coverage - $$14,307,589 Coverage - %256.10% CITY OF SOUTH BEND 4 The District is limited to the issuance of direct general obligation debt in an amount not to exceed 2% of one-third of the assessed valuation. PER CAPITA AND DEBT RATIO ANALYSIS Issue Original Final Title Date Amount Maturity Outstanding Economic Development Income Tax Bonds of 2015 2015 $5,605,000 08/01/35 $5,295,000 St. Joseph County Economic Development Income Tax Revenue Bonds of 2014 2014 2,657,697 12/31/34 2,386,508 (1) Total $7,681,508 (1) Issue Original Final Title Date Amount Maturity Outstanding County Option Income Tax Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds of 2010 2010 $6,075,000 02/01/21 $2,470,000 Taxable Revenue Bonds, Series 2010 2010 4,980,000 01/15/19 1,340,000 First Mortgage Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2012 2012 13,595,000 02/01/23 8,265,000 Total $12,075,000 Issue Original Final Title Date Amount Maturity Outstanding Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2013 2013 $3,990,000 05/01/26 $3,175,000 Century Center Energy Conservation Bonds of 2015 (QECB) 2015 4,167,897 05/01/31 4,145,311 Total $7,320,311 CITY OF SOUTH BEND These Bonds are payable solely from the City's share of the St. Joseph County Economic Development Income Tax and do not constitute a claim against the base property taxes collected or other income of the City. COUNTY OPTION INCOME TAX LEASE RENTAL REVENUE BONDS (As of February 15, 2017) These Bonds are payable solely from the City's share of the St. Joseph County Option Income Tax and do not constitute a claim against the base property taxes collected or other income of the City. 5 (Continued on next page) HOTEL-MOTEL TAX REVENUE DEBT (As of February 15, 2017) CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCOME TAX REVENUE BONDS (As of February 15, 2017) On December 30, 2014, the City of South Bend's Mayor, as the executive of the City, designated a portion of the City's distributive share of County Economic Development Income Tax to St. Joseph County (the "County"), pursuant to IC 6- 3.5-7-15, in such amount as necessary to pay the annual debt service of 29.03% of the County's Economic Development Income Tax Revenue Bonds of 2014 ("County Bonds"), as long as these County Bonds remain outstanding. The principal balance outstanding attributable to the City was $2,386,508 as of December 31, 2016, as the City prepaid some of the outstanding principal amount. (Cont'd) Issue Original Final Title Date Amount Maturity Outstanding Lease Rental Revenue Bonds, Series 2015 2015 $25,000,000 02/01/37 $25,000,000 Lease Rental Revenue Refunding Bonds of 2015 2015 31,450,000 02/15/33 29,420,000 (1) Special Taxing District Refunding Bonds of 2014 2014 3,440,000 01/01/22 2,210,000 (1) Special Program Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A 2011 18,030,000 08/01/24 11,850,000 (Downtown Central Development Area) Special Program Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A 2011 10,435,000 08/01/24 6,755,000 (Airport Development Area) Total $75,235,000 Final Title Maturity Outstanding Waterworks Refunding Revenue Bonds of 2016 01/01/27 $3,300,000 Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2012 01/01/33 6,925,000 Waterworks Refunding Revenue Bonds of 2012B 01/01/23 2,380,000 Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2009, Series A (SRF) 01/01/30 332,562 Waterworks Revenue Bonds of 2009, Series B 01/01/30 4,325,000 Sewage Works Refunding Revenue Bonds of 2015 12/01/25 24,965,000 Sewage Works Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2013A 12/01/24 8,050,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2012 12/01/32 20,890,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2011 12/01/31 17,295,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2010 12/01/30 7,145,000 Sewage Works Revenue Bonds of 2009 (SRF) 12/01/28 2,249,643 Waterworks and Sewage Works Leases 3,325,737 (1) The Bonds are payable from a Special Ad Valorem Tax; however, it is the intent of the City to pay from Tax Increment Revenues. 6 The City of South Bend owns and operates the municipal waterworks and municipal sewage works (the "Utilities") which have heretofore issued and have outstanding the following revenue bonds. All such revenue bonds constitute a lien on the revenue of the utilities and are not, pursuant to Indiana statures, direct obligations of the City. Revenue bonds issued of the Utilities and outstanding as of February 15, 2017, were as follows: STATEMENT OF CITY UTILITY REVENUE DEBT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) REVENUE DEBT (As of February 15, 2017) Year City of South Bend St. Joseph County 2013 $2,336,906,810 $7,671,151,787 2014 2,181,510,508 7,514,198,242 2015 2,230,375,068 7,864,008,472 2016 2,257,279,248 7,906,760,026 2017 2,317,096,240 8,201,203,024 Source: Department of Local Government Finance Certified Budget Orders. 2013 3.4% 2014 3.4% 2015 3.3% 2016 3.3% 2017 3.23% Cigarettes: Gasoline: Per 20 Cigarette Pack Per Gallon 2013 $0.995 $0.18 2014 0.995 0.18 2015 0.995 0.18 2016 0.995 0.18 2017 0.995 0.18 7 7% tangible personal property except food and prescription drugs. Excise tax in lieu of personal property tax, based on initial retail price and age of vehicle. Additional 6% sales tax on any overnight stay in St. Joseph County. INNKEEPERS TAX INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME EXCISE TAX AUTOMOBILE TAX Personal Exemptions: $1,000 annual exemption allowed for taxpayer and $1,500 for each dependent child. 0.25% of adjusted gross income of St. Joseph County resident taxpayers and certain non- resident St. Joseph County taxpayers. 0.4% of adjusted gross income of St. Joseph County resident taxpayers and certain non- resident St. Joseph County taxpayers. 0.4996% of adjusted gross income of St. Joseph County resident taxpayers and certain non-resident St. Joseph County taxpayers. COUNTY OPTION INCOME TAX LOCAL OPTION INCOME TAX 0.6004% of adjusted gross income of St. Joseph County resident taxpayers and certain non-resident St. Joseph County taxpayers. LOCAL OPTION INCOME TAX PUBLIC SAFETY CITY OF SOUTH BEND CERTIFIED ASSESSED VALUATION SALE & USE TAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCOME TAX St. Joseph County Year Personal Total Total Payable Real Estate Utilities Property Taxable Value Taxable Value 2013 $1,858,213,181 $100,832,450 $412,042,066 $2,371,087,697 $7,753,967,187 2014 1,687,672,152 90,252,180 431,802,340 2,209,726,672 7,612,534,622 2015 1,753,122,893 86,924,710 420,221,715 2,260,269,318 7,894,770,717 2016 1,737,036,616 83,786,930 456,346,197 2,277,169,743 7,993,696,892 2017 1,758,787,301 105,036,200 463,676,740 2,327,500,241 8,262,636,370 Note: See footnote (a) at the end of this report. CITY OF SOUTH BEND SCHEDULE OF HISTORICAL NET ASSESSED VALUATION (As Provided by the St. Joseph County Auditor's Office) City of South Bend 8 TOTAL CERTIFIED TAX RATES City of South Bend - Portage Township Per $100 of Net Assessed Valuation Year Taxes Payable 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 County $0.6731 $0.7058 $0.6866 $0.6974 $0.6950 Portage Township 0.0453 0.0505 0.0500 0.0512 0.0527 Schools 1.3493 1.3577 1.2940 1.2682 1.2049 Library 0.3227 0.3309 0.3207 0.3549 0.3372 Corporation General 2.5678 2.7977 2.8313 2.8703 2.8382 Park & Recreation 0.5102 0.5608 0.5676 0.5754 0.6473 Cumulative Cap Development 0.0328 0.0328 0.0325 0.0321 0.0313 Total Corporation 3.1108 3.3913 3.4314 3.4778 3.5168 Redevelopment General 0.0599 0.0379 0.0687 0.0648 0.0376 Airport 0.0330 0.0345 0.0338 0.0423 0.0285 Transportation 0.1042 0.1125 0.1100 0.1153 0.1161 Total Tax Rate $5.6983 $6.0211 $5.9952 $6.0719 $5.9888 Total District Certified Tax Rate (1) South Bend - Centre Twp. $5.6530 $5.9804 $5.9591 $6.0315 $5.9361 South Bend - Clay Twp. $5.6653 $6.0039 $5.9762 $6.0517 $5.9686 South Bend - German Twp. $5.6659 $5.9839 $5.9591 $6.0342 $5.9486 South Bend - Portage Twp. $5.6983 $6.0211 $5.9952 $6.0719 $5.9888 South Bend - Penn Twp. $5.3092 $5.7143 $5.5980 $5.6233 $5.5146 South Bend - Warren Twp. $5.6938 $6.0117 $5.9861 $6.0630 $5.9753 (1) Includes certified tax rates of overlapping taxing units. Source: DLGF Certified Budget Orders for the City. 9 CITY OF SOUTH BEND PROPERTY TAXES LEVIED AND COLLECTED Certified Taxes Levied Certified Net of Collected as Collected as Collection Taxes Circuit Breaker Circuit Breaker Taxes Percent of Percent of Year Levied Tax Credit Tax Credit Collected Gross Levy Net Levy (1) 2012 $70,756,844 ($23,965,911) $46,790,933 $47,728,794 67.45% 102.00% 2013 72,696,497 (27,863,156) 44,833,341 43,943,006 60.45% 98.01% 2014 73,981,565 (28,708,050) 45,273,515 44,540,371 60.20% 98.38% 2015 76,533,090 (31,636,141) 44,896,949 45,265,669 59.15% 100.82% 2016 78,503,658 (32,421,068) 46,082,590 47,766,833 60.85% 103.65% Source: The St. Joseph County Auditor's Office and the DLGF Certified Budget Orders for the City. CITY OF SOUTH BEND 10 (1) Circuit Breaker Tax Credits allocable to the City per the DLGF. Note: See footnote (b) at the end of this report. LARGE TAXPAYERS Percent of 2016/2017 Total Net Assessed Net Assessed Name Type of Business Valuation Valuation (1) Indiana Michigan Power Company (2) Electric utility $50,290,160 2.16% University of Notre Dame (2) Higher education 43,287,836 1.86% Edward Rose of Indiana (2) Apartment complexes 37,011,700 1.59% Honeywell International, Inc./ Bendix Corp. (2) Mfg. auto and aircraft parts 35,957,771 1.54% Steel Warehouse Co., Inc./ Lock Joint Tube LLC (2) Steel processing 33,327,984 1.43% Indiana Bell Telephone Co, Inc./ AT&T Telecommunications utility 33,185,910 1.43% Services, Inc. (2) JVE Investments LLC/ The Tire Rack, Inc. (2) Tire sales 24,703,590 1.06% Federal-Mogul Powertrain Systems Mfg. automotive parts 23,751,180 1.02% Northern Indiana Public Service Company (2) Gas & electric utility 22,260,990 0.96% Eddy Property Development, Inc./ South Bend Healthcare clinic 21,728,410 0.93% Clinic LLP (2) Totals $325,505,531 13.98% (1) (2) 11 CITY OF SOUTH BEND The total net assessed valuation of the City is $2,327,500,241 for taxes payable in 2017, according to the St. Joseph County Auditor's office. The following is a list of the ten largest taxpayers located within the City. Source: County Auditor's office and the DLGF. Individual parcel data is submitted by the County Auditor to the DLGF once a year for preparation of the county abstract. Located in a tax increment allocation area; therefore, all or a portion of the taxes are captured as TIF and not distributed to individual taxing units. As of Assets 12/31/2016 Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $2,964,074 Investments 10,325,798 Accounts receivable (net of allowance) 2,613,508 Accounts receivable - other 195,403 Interfund receivables 3,038 Inventories 171,415 Prepaid items 28,364 Restricted assets: Cash and cash equivalents: Reserve O&M fund 1,032,056 Repair fund 390,961 Bond and interest account 181,600 Debt service reserve account 4,111,633 Construction fund 654,127 Improvement fund 1,606,803 Cash with fiscal agent 248,464 Investments: Reserve O&M fund 3,595,323 Repair fund 1,361,970 Bond and interest account 632,630 Construction fund 2,278,748 Improvement fund 5,597,539 Interest receivable 57,010 Total Current Assets 38,050,464 Noncurrent Assets: Capital assets: Land and construction in progress 19,623,750 Utility plant in service 222,739,478 Less: Accumulated depreciation (84,833,001) Total Noncurrent Assets 157,530,227 Total Assets $195,580,691 Deferred Outflows of Resources: Unamortized loss on refunding $2,161,726 Total Assets and Deferred Outflows $197,742,417 (See Accountants' Compilation Report) SOUTH BEND (INDIANA) MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER UTILITY STATEMENT OF NET POSITION (Continued on next page) 12 (Cont'd) Liabilities 12/31/2016 Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $1,208,302 Interfund payables 4,330 Accrued payroll payable 198,966 Compensated absences payable 266,190 Current liabilities payable from restricted assets: Accounts payable 1,224,297 Mortgage bonds payable 70,725 Revenue bonds payable 6,835,000 Capital leases payable 595,824 Notes and loans payable 162,472 Accrued interest payable 193,294 Total Current Liabilities 10,759,400 Noncurrent Liabilities: Mortgage bonds payable (net of unamortized discount) 270,739 Revenue bonds payable (net of unamortized discounts and premiums) 71,636,002 Capital leases payable 1,254,995 Notes and loans payable 2,087,171 Total Noncurrent Liabilities 75,248,907 Total Liabilities $86,008,307 Net Position Investment in capital assets $76,468,118 Restricted for debt service 9,359,948 Restricted for capital outlay 8,912,920 Unrestricted 16,993,124 Total Net Position $111,734,110 13 SOUTH BEND (INDIANA) MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER UTILITY STATEMENT OF NET POSITION As of (See Accountants' Compilation Report) For the Calendar Year Ended 12/31/2016 Operating Revenue: Metered revenue: Residential $22,745,117 Commercial 8,932,627 Industrial 5,705,662 Penalties 667,656 Other 342,468 Total Operating Revenue 38,393,530 Operating Expenses: Collection system 5,083,825 Treatment and disposal 8,272,042 Customer accounts 254,407 Administrative and general 1,310,251 Subtotal 14,920,525 Depreciation expense 6,832,296 Total Operating Expenses 21,752,821 Operating Income (Loss) 16,640,709 Non-operating Revenue (Expenses): Interest revenue 374,036 Insurance reimbursement 16,007 Management fee (1,261,956) Miscellaneous (26) Interest expense (2,667,860) Debt issue costs (1,750) Gain (loss) on disposition of assets (602,403) Repair fund revenue 627,897 Repair fund expense (500,292) Total Non-operating Revenues (Expenses) (4,016,347) Income (Loss) Before Contributions and Transfers 12,624,362 Payment in lieu of tax (3,672,060) Change in Net Position 8,952,302 Net Position - Beginning 102,781,808 Net Position - Ending $111,734,110 14 SOUTH BEND (INDIANA) MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER UTILITY STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENSES AND CHANGES IN NET POSITION (See Accountants' Compilation Report) (a) "Net Assessed Value" or "Taxable Value" represents the "Gross Assessed Value" less certain deductions for mortgages, veterans, the aged, the blind, economic revitalization areas, resource recovery systems, rehabilitated residential property, solar energy systems, wind power devices, hydroelectric systems, geothermal devices and tax-exempt property. The "Net Assessed Value" or "Taxable Value" is the assessed value used to determine tax rates. Pursuant to State law, personal property is assessed at its actual historical cost less depreciation, in accordance with 50 IAC 4.2, the DLGF's Rules for the Assessment of Tangible Personal Property. Effective January 1, 2016, state law annually exempts from property taxation new tangible business personal property with an acquisition cost of less than $20,000. Pursuant to State law, real property is valued for assessment purposes at its "true tax value" as defined in the Real Property Assessment Rule, 50 IAC 2.4, the 2011 Real Property Assessment Manual ("Manual"), as incorporated into 50 IAC 2.4 and the 2011 Real Property Assessment Guidelines, Version A ("Guidelines"), as adopted by the DLGF. P.L. 204-2016, SEC. 3, enacted in 2016, retroactive to January 1, 2016, amends State law to provide that "true tax value" for real property does not mean the value of the property to the user and that true tax value shall be determined under the rules of the DLGF. As a result of P.L. 204-2016, the DLGF has begun the process of amending the Manual. In the case of agricultural land, true tax value shall be the value determined in accordance with the Guidelines and IC 6-1.1-4, as amended by P.L. 180-2016. P.L. 180-2016 revises the factors used to calculate the assessed value of agricultural land. This legislation is retroactive to the January 1, 2016 assessment date and applies to each assessment date thereafter. The revised factors enacted in the legislation may reduce the total assessed value of agricultural land, which could shift property tax liability from agricultural property owners to other property owners. In addition, the reduction in the assessed value of agricultural land may result in a reduction of the total assessed value. Lower assessed values may result in higher tax rates in order for a unit to receive its approved property tax levy. Except for agricultural land, the Manual permits assessing officials in each county to choose any acceptable mass appraisal method to determine true tax value, taking into consideration the ease of administration and the uniformity of the assessments produced by that method. The Guidelines were adopted to provide assessing officials with an acceptable appraisal method, although the Manual makes it clear that assessing officials are free to select from any number of appraisal methods, provided that they produce "accurate and uniform values throughout the jurisdiction and across all classes of property". The Manual specifies the standards for accuracy and validation that the DLGF uses to determine the acceptability of any alternative appraisal method. (b) Indiana Code 6-1.1-20.6 provides taxpayers with a tax credit for all property taxes in an amount that exceeds the gross assessed value of real and personal property eligible for the credit (“Circuit Breaker Tax Credit”). Property taxes for residential homesteads are limited to 1% of the gross assessed value of the homestead; property taxes for agricultural, other residential property and long term care facilities are limited to 2% of their gross assessed value; and property taxes for all other real and personal property are limited to 3% of gross assessed value. Additional property tax limits have been made available to certain senior citizens. Since July 1, 2012, property tax revenue subject to reduction by the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit under Indiana Code 6-1.1- 20.6-9.8 is classified as either "protected taxes" or "unprotected taxes." "Protected Taxes" include taxes levied to pay debt service or lease rental on obligations payable from ad valorem property taxes. A debt service fund containing Protected Taxes is funded first by the taxing unit before property taxes are deposited into any other funds. The Constitutional Provision excludes from the application of the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit property taxes first due and payable in 2012, and thereafter, that are imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum. The Statute codifies this exception, providing that, with respect to property taxes first due and payable in 2012 and thereafter, property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum will not be considered for purposes of calculating the limits to property tax liability under the provisions of the Statute. In accordance with the Constitutional Provision, the General Assembly has, in the Statute, designated Lake County and St. Joseph County as "eligible counties" and has provided that property taxes imposed in these eligible counties to pay debt service and make lease rental payments for bonds or leases issued or entered into before July 1, 2008 or on bonds issued or leases entered into after June 30, 2008 to refund those bonds or leases, will not be considered for purposes of calculating the limits to property tax liability under the provisions of the Statute, through and including December 31, 2019. CITY OF SOUTH BEND FOOTNOTES 15