Scope of Services
Services may be performed on a project-by-project basis and may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Financial Condition Review and Baseline Assessment
• Review the City’s recent financial performance, including audited financial statements, budgets, and management reports.
• Evaluate the City’s current budget, revenue structure, operating trends, and expenditure patterns.
• Review any existing financial projections, capital improvement plans, or long-range financial studies prepared by the City or other consultants.
• Identify and utilize relevant analyses already completed for the City by outside consultants, auditors, engineers, or other advisors in order to avoid duplication of effort or cost.
• Evaluate the City’s current debt profile, including outstanding obligations, repayment schedules, and debt service coverage levels.
• Analyze the City’s capital structure relative to its revenue sources and projected financial capacity.
• Identify potential financial risks or structural issues that could affect the City’s long-term financial condition.
• Provide recommendations regarding financial management practices, budget planning, and debt management strategies.
Capital Planning and Financial Modeling
• Develop a comprehensive capital planning model to evaluate long-term capital needs and financing strategies.
• Incorporate variables such as project timing and costs, available revenue sources, cash versus debt funding strategies, debt amortization structures, and projected growth in revenues and expenditures.
• Evaluate various financing scenarios and their impact on the City’s operating budget and financial position.
• Analyze the City’s debt capacity and affordability under multiple economic scenarios.
• Develop scenario analysis to evaluate the financial impact of different capital project priorities and funding strategies.
• Work collaboratively with City staff to refine model assumptions and ensure the model can be maintained internally by the City.
• Assist in presenting capital planning scenarios to the City Council or other governing bodies as requested.
Debt Issuance and Financing Advisory Services
• Evaluate financing options including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, installment financings, bank loans, direct placements, and other financing structures.
• Develop recommended plans for proposed financings.
• Evaluate alternatives including public market debt versus private placements.
• Assist the City in preparing for debt issuance, including preparation of financing schedules and financial data review.
• Prepare quantitative schedules including sources and uses of funds, debt service schedules, and key bond statistics.
• If requested, assist the City in selecting members of the financing team such as underwriters, lenders, trustees, or other participants.
• Assist in developing and evaluating solicitation materials such as Requests for Proposals for lenders or underwriters.
• Coordinate interviews with prospective financing providers and assist in negotiating financial terms.
• Develop and maintain financing timetables identifying key milestones and required approvals.
• Assist in preparing and presenting financing information to the City Council or other governing bodies.
• Advise the City regarding market conditions and factors affecting interest rates and investor demand.
• Assist in negotiating final pricing and terms of the financing.
• Assist in coordinating closing logistics and preparation of flow-of-funds schedules.
Credit Rating Strategy and Ongoing Advisory Services
• Prepare credit profiles for the City and evaluate factors affecting its credit ratings.
• Assist in preparing rating agency presentations and supporting materials.
• Develop rating strategies and assist the City in meetings with credit rating agencies.
• Monitor the City’s existing debt portfolio and identify potential refinancing opportunities.
• Provide ongoing advice regarding market conditions affecting municipal borrowing.
• Assist in reviewing and updating financial policies including debt management and reserve policies.
• Provide guidance regarding regulatory developments affecting municipal issuers.
• Serve as the City’s Independent Registered Municipal Advisor for purposes of applicable federal regulations.
Capital Planning Tools and Analytical Capabilities
• Respondents should describe any proprietary or internally developed capital planning, financial forecasting, or debt capacity modeling tools available to assist the City.
• Provide examples of how such tools have been used to assist other municipal clients in evaluating capital project timing, funding sources, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Describe the ability of such tools to model alternative financing structures, project phasing, revenue projections, and financial ratios.
• Explain how the City’s staff could utilize or maintain the planning tools following initial implementation.
• Provide examples of deliverables or dashboards that may be produced to support decision making by elected officials and staff.