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06/18/2012 <br /> Attachment 2 <br /> has a lower all-in TIC, lower total payments, and leaves the Port with sufficient free cash <br /> flow to finance its CIP in future years. <br /> City staff advised Port staff that it would recommend compensation to the general fund <br /> for underwriting the Port's credit risk were the City Council to consider using the general <br /> fund to guarantee the Port's credit. No specifics were mentioned. A 50/50 split is a <br /> reasonable estimate. Additionally, as the general fund would be exposed to the Port's <br /> business risk, it is reasonable to assume that the City would require some increased <br /> level of oversight of the Port's operational and financial affairs. <br /> A gross savings of $25,000 (20-year to 20-year amortization), reduced (by sharing <br /> savings with the City) to only $12,000, is inadequate savings to justify the likely long- <br /> term loss of the Port's financial and operational independence from the City. While a <br /> gross savings of $70,000/year (30-year to 30-year amortization), reduced to <br /> $35,000/year, is substantially more, there is no compelling reason to either pay more <br /> interest for a 30-year loan or to sacrifice independence. The coverage ratios for a 30- <br /> year BBB Port bond are more than adequate for future market access. And finally, the <br /> $125,000/year debt service savings between a 30-year City guarantee and a 20-year GE <br /> loan is not really a savings at all. The difference in annual payments is due to a more <br /> rapid repayment of loan principal, not an interest rate savings. Both in future value <br /> terms (total debt service payments) and net present value terms (all-in TIC), the 20-year <br /> GE loan is less expensive2 than a 30-year bond wrapped by the City's general fund. <br /> WEMF recommended to staff that the Port begin negotiation with GE. <br /> All of the foregoing analysis was conducted assuming an $8 million loan. Based on Port <br /> staff recommendations, the Port Board Finance Committee subsequently determined <br /> that the Port should retain higher unrestricted reserve balances and directed staff to <br /> increase the size of the financing to $10 million. <br /> z Actually, the TICs are so close that these two alternatives are essentially equivalent <br /> in present value terms. <br /> 3 RESO. # 15199 <br /> MUFF# 505 <br />