Debt Policies
The issuance of debt creates a long-term commitment requiring a municipality to make payments of interest and principal for up to 30 years. Such a long-term commitment obligates funds that would otherwise be available to respond to changes during that period, such as citizen demands for new or additional services, revenue shortfalls or unanticipated expenditure increases. The primary purpose of a debt policy is to provide written guidelines that establish the parameters regarding the amount and type of debt that a municipality may issue. Having such a policy in place ensures that long-term financial commitments, those funded through the issuance of bonds or notes, will be considered consistently within a fiscally prudent framework.
Policies should address:
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Example policies: (Word format) |
Please note: All example policies are for illustrative purposes only. None of these example policies have been reviewed by LGC legal staff for enforceability or compliance with applicable laws. LGC makes no express or implied endorsement or recommendation of any example policy, nor does it make any express or implied guarantee of the legal enforceability, legal compliance, or quality of any particular policy. Likewise, we do not represent that any particular policy or portion of a policy is appropriate for any particular municipality. Legal counsel should review any proposed financial policy before a municipality adopts it.