Collingswood Remains at Junk Status; Moody Gives Chance for Upgrading
Collingswood Remains at Junk Status; Moody Gives Chance for Upgrading
Moody gives hope this week to Collingswood’s bond credit rating to be improved. The agency has retained Collingswood’s Ba1 (junk status). However, from a “negative” rating, there is a moderate upward step for the borough’s credit rating to “uncertain.”, Moody said.
It is very difficult to loan money if the credit rating is poor.
Moody did a massive downgrading of Collingswood in September of 2011. Despite protests from the officials of borough, the rating was maintained up to November after performing a review. One important factor taken into account by Moody in giving the borough rating was the $28 million outstanding long term and general obligation debt. But Moody upgraded Collingswood’s rating after signing a settlement deal that it will refinance the $4.5 million debt linked to project which involved Lumberyard construction. Collingswood is the guarantor in this project according to Moody.
This unbudgeted refinancing settlement exceeds the fiscal 2011 unaudited year-end Fund balance amounting to $1.05 million. This unbudgeted payment also reflects 26% of expenditure which is to be added to the current debt service which is 14.4% of expenditures.
The fiscal budget of Collingswood for 2012 will be decided at the meeting of commissioners on April 2012. According to Moody’s report, the borough has several alternatives to meet LumberYard debt obligation. It can choose between lower risk but more costly option or more risk but cheaper option.
Collingswood should list the advantages and disadvantages of the different options and choose the best option to achieve its goal to pay back the $4.5 million financial obligation and to improve its rating. In other words if the financial obligation is paid in full, the reserves is increased and good market access with calculated risk, will improve the rating. On the contrary, if it fails to pay the debt the rating will further go down. Other factors that will cause the further downgrading are the decreasing tax base, insufficient financial reserves and ineffective market access.