HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 WS CalPERS refundingAgenda Item # 13
WORKSHOP
To:
Board of Directors
From:
Robert Mescher
Date:
April 06, 2011
Subject:
Discussion of CaIPERs Side -Fund Refunding
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
This item involves discussion of a proposed refunding of the District employees'
pension side -fund with CalPERS.
2. HISTORY
In 2004, the District and its employees elected to participate in a pooled pension plan
with California Public Employees' Retirement System (CaIPERS).
In 2010, the District and its employees elected to increase the CalPERS benefit
effective January 2011. The District employees agreed to pay the increased costs
through increased payroll deductions.
CalPERS required the District to pay an additional amount into a special fund, called a
"side -fund" in order to catch up to the contributions of the existing pension pool
members. The District's side -fund obligation is currently $7.7 million and is amortized
through 2021 with a 7.75% rate.
The side -fund obligation is paid jointly by the District and District employees.
3. NEW INFORMATION
Jeff Land, from Brandis Tallman, a full service investment banking firm and
broker/dealer in San Francisco, contacted the District to propose the refunding or
refinancing of the $7.7 million side -fund at a much lower rate of 5%, as compared to
the existing 7.75% rate.
The District's financial advisor, Sandra McDonald, requested proposals from several
other financing institutions, however, Brandis Tallman offered the most favorable
terms.
Bob Mescher, Stephen Hollabaugh, and Sandra McDonald discussed the structure
and terms of the proposed refunding with Brandis Tallman.
The summary of the private placement refunding (Attachment 1) illustrates that, even
including the $117,000 issuance cost, the proposed refunding would save the District
and its employees almost $100,000 each year for the next eleven years.
The obligation to pay the loan would be recorded as a liability on the Electric Utility's
balance sheet and as a deferred pension expense. The loan would be paid similarly to
the current method; from the Electric and Water budgeted pension expense and from
the employee payroll deductions. The $100,000 annual savings would be allocated to
the District and the employees based on their portion of contribution to the side -fund.
If the Board directs staff to pursue the Brandis Tallman refunding, the targeted close
date would be mid June 2011.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed refunding would save almost $100,000 per year for eleven years. The
savings would be allocated to the District and the employees based on their portion of
contribution to the side -fund.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to pursue the proposed Brandis Tallman refunding of the District
employees' CaIPERS side -fund and direct staff to present the final refunding terms for
Board review and approval at the June 1, 2011 meeting.
Robert Mescher ichael D. Holley
Acting Administrative Services Manager General Manager
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