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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-14 - Resolution No. 2022-15 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-15 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT ADOPTING THE FINANCIAL RESERVES POLICY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 2021-30 WHEREAS, the purpose of the Yorba Linda Water District's (YLWD) Financial Reserves Policy is to ensure that the District continues to have sufficient funding available to meet its operating, non-operating, capital and debt service obligations; and WHEREAS, adequate reserves and sound financial policies maintain YLWD's bond ratings in the capital markets, provide financing flexibility and sustain debt covenant compliance; and WHEREAS, the District has completed a comprehensive Asset Management Plan and has prepared a rate study and five-year financial plan; and WHEREAS, the Financial Reserves Policy recommends establishing various reserve categories, defines the purpose and use of these funds and identifies target levels and priority funding of the reserves; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors desires to adopt a new Financial Reserves Policy for Fiscal Year 2022-23. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Yorba Linda Water District as follows: Section 1. That effective July 1, 2022 Policy No. 3010-005 is hereby adopted to read as attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein. Section 2. That Resolution No. 2021-30 is hereby rescinded effective July 1, 2022. Resolution No. 2022-15 Adopting the Financial Reserves Policy for Fiscal Year 2022-23 1 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of June 2022 by the following called vote: AYES: Directors DesRoches, Hawkins, Jones, Lindsey, and Miller NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None J. Wayne Mi er,'PhD, President Yorba Linda Water District ATTEST: Annie Alexander, Board Secretary ' Yorba Linda Water District Reviewed as to form by General Counsel: 1 Andrew B. Gage' ' , sq. Kidman Gagen Law I If LLP Resolution No.2022-15 Adopting the Financial Reserves Policy for Fiscal Year 2022-23 2 YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT 3010-005-POL Page 1 of 5 FINANCIAL RESERVES Dept/Div: Finance Approved By: Resolution No. 2022-15 Effective Date: July 1, 2022 Applicability: Districtwide Supersedes: Resolution No. 2021-30 See Also: N/A 1.0 General Policy Maintaining adequate reserves is an essential part of sound financial management. The Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors realizes the importance of reserves in providing reliable service to its customers, well-maintained infrastructure for current and future customers, financing capital projects as well as capital repair and replacement, and the ability to respond to changing circumstances. Interest derived from reserve balances shall be credited to the reserve account from which it was earned. 2.0 Categories Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD or District) shall accumulate, maintain and segregate its reserve funds into the following categories:  Board Designated Unrestricted Reserves; and  Board Designated Restricted Reserves. 3.0 Scope This policy will assist the Board of Directors in establishing:  Minimum and Maximum Funding Levels, with target goals as a percentage of maximum funding level for each reserve fund, unless otherwise noted;  Requirements for the use of reserve funds; and  Periodic review requirements for each reserve. 4.0 Periodic Review Staff and the YLWD Board shall review the reserve balances and targets annually as a part of the annual budget process. The Finance Staff will continue to review all reserve and investment balances monthly, with a quarterly report going to the full Board. Any changes must be approved by resolution of the District Board of Directors. Changes can include, but are not limited to, establishment of additional reserve funds, changes in reserve target levels, and changes in types of reserve categories. 5.0 Designated Unrestricted and Restricted Reserves 5.1 Board Designated Unrestricted Reserves These are reserve funds earmarked for the purpose of funding such items as new capital facilities, repair or replacement of existing facilities, and general operating reserves designated for a specific purpose and use by the Board of Directors. All reserves in this category will be funded at least to the recommended minimum level. As a means for the District to retain its AA and AA+ ratings, the targeted total reserve balance is 365 days in cash at the end of the fiscal year. YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT 3010-005-POL Page 2 of 5 5.1.1 Operating Reserve. 5.1.1.1 Definition and Purpose – Established to cover temporary cash flow deficiencies that occur as a result of timing differences between the receipt of operating revenue and expenditure requirements and unexpected expenditures occurring as a result of doing business. 5.1.1.2 Funding Level – The District’s current funding levels will be a minimum of 25% and a maximum of 50% of the annual operating budget, including interest expense, for both the water and sewer funds. In the event this fund falls below its minimum funding level, the Board will act to restore the balance above the minimum funding level within twelve (12) months from the date that the fund fell below the minimum level. Levels Water Sewer Minimum 25 % 25 % Maximum 50 % 50 % Levels Water Sewer Minimum $9,286,970 $757,075 Maximum $19,792,315 $1,514,150 5.1.1.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the Operating Reserve – This reserve may be utilized as needed to pay outstanding operating expenditures prior to the receipt of anticipated operating revenues. 5.1.2 Emergency Reserve 5.1.2.1 Definition and Purpose – Established to provide protection recovery to the District and its customers for losses arising from an unplanned event or circumstance (i.e. fires, earthquakes or financial emergencies). The reserve level combined with YLWD’s existing insurance policies should adequately protect YLWD and its customers in the event of a loss. 5.1.2.2 Funding Level – Established at a minimum level equal to 5% and a maximum level equal to 10% of the net capital assets for both the District’s water and sewer funds. In the event this fund falls below its minimum funding level, the Board will act to restore the balance above the minimum funding level within twelve (12) months from the date that the fund fell below the minimum level. Levels Water Sewer Minimum 5 % 5 % Maximum 10 % 10 % Levels Water Sewer Minimum $5,445,606 $1,901,971 Maximum $10,891,212 $3,803,943 YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT 3010-005-POL Page 3 of 5 5.1.2.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the Emergency Reserve – This reserve shall be utilized to cover unexpected losses experienced by the District as a result of a disaster or other unexpected loss. Any reimbursement received by the District from insurance companies as a result of a submitted claim shall be deposited back into the reserve as replenishment for the loss. 5.1.3 Capital Replacement Reserve 5.1.3.1 Definition and Purpose – Established to provide funding for general use on capital projects as well as capital repair and replacement funding as the District’s infrastructure deteriorates over its expected useful life. In addition, funding is to provide for non-scheduled capital asset repair and replacement and other capital related expenses. 5.1.3.2 Funding Level – The minimum target level for each reserve fund is the current Fiscal Year capital budget and the maximum is the current year plus 100% of the subsequent Fiscal Year capital budget. The target levels in these reserve funds will fluctuate depending on the capital improvement plan and timing of the projects. Therefore, no target level will be established. In the event these fund falls below the minimum funding level, the Board will act to restore the balance above the minimum funding level within twelve (12) months from the date that the fund fell below the minimum level. Levels Water Sewer Minimum $11,721,573 $737,000 Maximum $21,227,898 $2,772,000 5.1.3.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the Capital Replacement Reserve – Through the annual budget process, staff shall recommend anticipated asset replacement and capital improvement projects. The Board of Directors shall take action to approve recommended project appropriations from the capital replacement reserve. Should unplanned replacement be necessary during any fiscal year, the Board of Directors may take action to amend the budget and appropriate needed funds as required. 5.1.4 Rate Stabilization Reserve 5.1.4.1 Definition and Purpose – Established to assist in smoothing out water rate increases. This reserve is governed by the District’s bond covenants and funds deposited into this reserve are treated as operating revenues in the fiscal year designated by the District and will be treated as such in fiscal years of such designation for the purposes of computing the District's debt service coverage ratio. YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT 3010-005-POL Page 4 of 5 5.1.4.2 Funding Level – Established at a minimum level of 5% and maximum level of 20% of budgeted water sales for the current fiscal year. The Board of Directors have the option of funding the Rate Stabilization Reserve at a lower level. Levels Water Minimum 5 % Maximum 20 % Levels Water Minimum $1,871,914 Maximum $7,487,654 5.1.4.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the Rate Stabilization Reserve – The reserve can be used during any year where other revenues are not sufficient to meet the required debt service coverage ratio or when the maximum level in the reserve is reached. 5.1.5 Metropolitan Water District (“MWD”) Contingency Reserve 5.1.5.1 Definition and Purpose – Imported water purchased from MWD is approximately double the cost of groundwater at current rates, and MWD rates may fluctuate more in the future. While imported water is always a part of the YLWD portfolio, YLWD budgets using groundwater for approximately 75% or more of its supply and budgets using imported water from MWD for approximately 25% or less of its supply. However, in extreme circumstances, YLWD may be, and has been, forced to rely 100% on MWD imported water at significant and unbudgeted additional expense. The MWD Contingency Reserve is established as a means to offset the additional cost of providing water to its customers in the event the District is forced to rely on increased purchases of MWD imported water due to an interruption in the groundwater supply. While identified for this purpose, this reserve fund shall be unrestricted. 5.1.5.2 Funding Level – The MWD Contingency Reserve shall be funded in an amount equal to the cost of purchasing MWD imported water to meet 100% of the demand required to serve YLWD customers for one full year. This reserve fund shall be initially funded and accumulated over a period of ten (10) years from adoption and shall be supplemented each year thereafter to adjust for annual increases in MWD rates. The projected amount (2021 dollars) of funding to establish this reserve fund over 10 years is approximately $20,000,000. It is anticipated that the annual transfers to this reserve fund will adjust each fiscal year to account for inflation and any increases in the MWD rates during this funding period. Level Water Target $2,000,000 5.1.5.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the MWD Contingency Reserve – While unrestricted, the reserve may be used during any fiscal year where the District is forced to purchase imported water due to an interruption in the ground water supply or related circumstance necessitating increased purchases of MWD imported water. YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT 3010-005-POL Page 5 of 5 5.2 Board Designated Restricted Reserves These are funds held to either satisfy limitations set by external requirements established by creditors, grant agencies or law, or to only be used for a specific purpose. Examples include stipulated bond covenants and reserves held with a fiscal agent. 5.2.1 Conservation Reserve 5.2.1.1 Definition and Purpose – Established to provide funding for District-wide conservation efforts. 5.2.1.2 Funding Level – Funding shall be established as the net result of administrative penalties assessed less allowed expenditures of each fiscal year. Levels Water Minimum $0 Maximum $106,064 5.2.1.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the Conservation Reserve – This reserve may be used to fund district-wide conservation efforts in relation to, but not limited to, salary and related, maintenance, and material expenses for leak detection, conservation efforts, and other allowable expenses outside the normal cost of service for each fiscal year. 5.2.2 Employee Liability Reserve 5.2.2.1 Definition and Purpose – The purpose is to cover employees’ accrued vacation and other compensatory time and to ensure the complete funding associated with the liability incurred for employees whom have met the requirements necessary for district paid health benefits at retirement. 5.2.2.2 Funding Level – Funding for FY23 shall be established at a minimum target level of $309,902. Level Water Sewer Target $263,417 $46,485 5.2.2.3 Events or Conditions Prompting the Use of the Employee Liabilities Reserve – This reserve may be used in the event that operating funds are not adequate to meet vacation, compensatory and sick time paid out or retiree medical cost obligations within the current year.