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Factors which may favor pay -as- you -use financing include circumstances where: <br />• current revenue or reserves are insufficient to pay project costs; <br />• a project is immediately required; <br />• revenue available for debt issues are considered sufficient and reliable so that long -term <br />financing can be marketed with an appropriate credit rating, which can be maintained; <br />• market conditions present favorable interest rates and demand for municipal debt <br />financing; or <br />• the useful life of the project or asset is five years or greater. <br />The City will not use long -term debt to finance any recurring purpose such as current <br />operations. Debt financing will be used only for capital improvement projects and large <br />equipment purchases. Debt payments shall not extend beyond the estimated useful life of <br />the project or the equipment being financed. <br />3.2 Limitations and Constraints on Debt Financing. Per Article 12, Section 12 -1, of the City <br />of Louisville Charter, the total amount of the City's indebtedness shall not at any time <br />exceed three (3) percent of the actual value, as determined by the County Assessor, of <br />taxable property within the City, except such debt as may be incurred by supplying water. <br />Per Article 12, Section 12 -3, of the City of Louisville Charter, any lease- purchase <br />agreement, except for the acquisition of water rights, entered into by the City shall be <br />approved by the City Council by non - emergency ordinance. <br />Per the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment to the Colorado Constitution, all <br />multiple -year debt shall first be approved by the City's taxpaying electorate unless it is <br />issued for a TABOR - defined government enterprise, refinances bonded debt at a lower <br />interest rate, or sufficient cash reserves are pledged irrevocably for future payments. The <br />City's TABOR - defined enterprises include the Water Utility Fund, the Wastewater Utility <br />Fund, the Storm Water Utility Fund, and the Golf Course Fund. Operating leases, lease - <br />purchases, and certificates of participation (COP's) that are subject to annual appropriation <br />are not considered multiple -year debt and are not subject to TABOR election requirements. <br />3.3 Structure of Debt Financing. City debt will be structured to achieve the lowest possible <br />net interest cost given market conditions, the urgency of the capital project, and the nature <br />and type of any security provided. City debt will be structured in ways that will minimize <br />impacts on future financing flexibility. To the extent possible, repayment of debt shall be <br />structured to rapidly recapture credit capacity for future use. <br />City debt will be amortized for the shortest period consistent with a fair allocation of cost to <br />current and future beneficianes of the project being financed, and in keeping with other <br />related provisions of this policy. The City shall normally issue general obligation bonds or <br />revenue bonds with a maximum life of twenty years or less. <br />The City will normally seek to amortize general obligation bonds and revenue bonds with <br />level payments (principal plus interest) over the life of the issue. Pushing higher debt <br />service costs to future years will only be considered under special circumstances. The City <br />will also avoid repayment schedules that consist of low annual payments and a large <br />payment of the balance due at the end of the term. There shall always be at least one <br />interest payment in the first fiscal year after a bond sale. Principal repayment shall start no <br />later than the second year after the bond issue. <br />