2011 Municipal Study - City of Brantford

Municipal Study 2011DebtThe Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regulates the level of debt that may be incurred bymunicipalities, such that no more than 25% of the total own purpose revenue can be used to servicedebt and other long term obligations without receiving OMB approval. In addition to confirming thatthe debt is within the legislated limits, Government Finance Officers’ Association (GFOA)recommends the following analysis be undertaken:Measures of the tax and revenue base, such asprojections of key, relevant economic variablespopulation trendsutilization trends for services underlying revenuesEvaluation of trends relating to the government’s financial performance, such as: revenues and expenditures net revenues available after meeting operating requirements reliability of revenues expected to pay debt service unreserved fund balance levelsDebt service obligations such as: existing debt service requirements debt service as a percentage of expenditures, or tax or system revenuesMeasures of debt burden on the community such asDebt interest cover ratio—This ratio indicates the extent to which a municipality’s operatingrevenues are committed to interest expenses. Municipalities should manage this ratio within arange acceptable to it, having regard to long-term financial sustainability.Debt outstanding per capitadebt as a percentage of full or equalized assessed property valueFinancial Liabilities RatioMuch focus is placed on debt outstanding, however, this number has little meaning withoutconsidering available financial assets and other liabilities. The net financial liabilities ratio is abroader measure of indebtedness than the level of borrowing as it includes all of the liabilities of themunicipality and measures the extent to which the liabilities could be met from operating revenues.Municipal Financial Indicators58