Deciphering the Mystery of Bonds!
The Why's and How's in the Development of Government/Public Bond Programs
A luncheon and mini-LinCP Forum
1001 E McCarty Ln, San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 392-6451
OPENING REMARKS:
"Bonds: Beyond the Ballot"
Mike Trimble, Capital Planning Officer, City of Austin
PANELISTS:
Jeff Kauffmann, Director of Construction Management, Austin ISD
David Mendez, Partner, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP
Bill Mullane, Executive Director of Facilities & Construction, Austin Community College
Ladd Pattillo, Ladd Pattillo and Associates
Jim Powers, (Former Hays County Judge), President, J. L. Powers and Associates
Mike Trimble, Capital Planning Officer, City of Austin
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Moderator: Rob Roy Parnell, Texas State University System
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Government bonds are an important way in which local governments, such as cities, counties, school districts, and community colleges finance the construction of schools, libraries, roads, and other public improvements that provide essential services and needed jobs for Texans.
Public bond projects play a vital role in the growth and development of our communities, and yet the process that starts with the initiation of a bond proposal and ends with an election by voters is not always understood.
Many players are involved in the process and decisions, including in-house staff, architects, engineers, financial advisers, bond counsel, elected officials and community groups, and the success of a bond program depends not only on the importance of the proposed projects to the community, but also on the political climate, the state of the economy, the process of informing the public, and the careful selection of architects, engineers and contractors to design and construct the facilities.
Find out more about this process as we explore these and other questions:
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What factors are used to determine whether to seek bond financing for public projects?
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Who are the parties involved in this process?
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How does a governmental entity determine what projects to undertake, the estimated cost of the improvements, and the size of the bond issuance needed?
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What is the process of making a decision go forward with a bond proposal?
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How do politics factor into the process?
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How is a bond program promoted and how is the public informed of the proposed projects?
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What does the government entity do if bonds are not approved, or not fully approved, for needed projects?
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How are architects, engineers, and contractors selected for the projects?
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How can the A/E/C community get involved early in the process?
We will hear from our panel of politicians, facility managers (from three agencies: ACC, AISD, and City of Austin), a financial adviser for bond programs, bond counsel, and a public information specialist.
