New York, December 05, 2012 --
Moody's Ratings
Issue: General Obligation Promissory Notes; Rating: Aaa; Sale Amount; $1,075,000; Expected Sale Date: 12/10/2012; Rating Description: General Obligation
Issue: General Obligation Bonds; Rating: Aaa; Sale Amount: $10,750,000; Expected Sale Date: 12/10/2012; Rating Description: General Obligation
Issue: Taxable General Obligation Airport Bonds; Rating: Aaa; Sale Amount: $3,235,000; Expected Sale Date: 12/10/2012; Rating Description: General Obligation
Opinion
Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Aaa rating to Outagamie County's (WI) $1.1 million General Obligation Promissory Notes, $10.8 million General Obligation Bonds, and $3.2 million Taxable General Obligation Airport Bonds. Concurrently, Moody's has affirmed the Aaa rating on the county's outstanding general obligation debt. Post-sale, the county will have $51.7 million of outstanding general obligation debt.
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE
Debt service on the notes and bonds is secured by the county's general obligation unlimited tax pledge. Proceeds of the notes will finance the acquisition of a compactor for the county's solid waste facility. While debt service is secured by the county's general obligation unlimited tax pledge, debt service is expected to be paid from landfill user fees. Proceeds of the Airport Bonds will finance the construction of a hangar and general aviation facility at the Outagamie County Regional Airport and proceeds of the bonds will finance a project to upgrade the county sheriff's communication system and to retrofit the county administration building with new plumbing, wiring, and a new HVAC system. Assignment and affirmation of the Aaa rating reflects the county's sizeable tax base which serves as a regional commercial and retail center, well-managed financial operations supported by healthy reserves, and an average debt burden.
STRENGTHS
- Sizeable tax base with average resident income indices
- History of prudent financial management has led to the presence of healthy reserves
CHALLENGES
- Equalized valuation declines in 2011 and 2012; declines may continue
- Exposure to potential reduction in state revenue related to mandated service in the county's Health and Human Services Fund
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING DOWN
- Substantial increase in delinquent property taxes that leads to the deterioration of the county's reserves and liquidity
- Deterioration of the county's tax base and weakening of the county's resident income profile
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY USED
The principal methodology used in this rating General Obligation Bonds Issued by U.S. Local Governments published in October 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
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Please see ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the last rating action and the rating history.
The date on which some ratings were first released goes back to a time before Moody's ratings were fully digitized and accurate data may not be available. Consequently, Moody's provides a date that it believes is the most reliable and accurate based on the information that is available to it. Please see the ratings disclosure page on our website www.moodys.com for further information.
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Kathryn Gregory Associate Analyst Public Finance Group Moody'sInvestors Service, Inc.100 N Riverside Plaza Suite 2220 Chicago, IL 60606 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653Tatiana Killen Analyst Public Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc.250 Greenwich StreetNew York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653(C) 2012 Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and/or its licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.
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