Understanding No Practical Capacity to Issue Bonds [Education]: Key Insights
Definition & Meaning
The phrase no practical capacity to issue bonds refers to a situation where a local education agency (LEA) cannot generate sufficient revenue through property taxes to support bond issuance for school funding. Specifically, this occurs when the total assessed value of real property that can be taxed for educational purposes is less than $25,000,000. This limitation can affect an LEA's ability to finance construction or improvement projects through bonds.
Legal Use & context
This term is primarily used in the context of educational finance and funding. It is relevant to the Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program, which assists school districts that have limited capacity to raise funds through bonds. Understanding this term is crucial for school administrators, financial officers, and legal professionals involved in educational finance.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A small rural school district has an assessed property value of $20,000,000. Due to this low valuation, the district qualifies as having no practical capacity to issue bonds, limiting its options for funding new school facilities.
Example 2: A city with an assessed property value of $30,000,000 is able to issue bonds, while a neighboring district with a valuation of $24,000,000 cannot. This difference impacts their ability to finance educational improvements. (hypothetical example)
Relevant laws & statutes
The primary regulation governing this term is found in 34 CFR 222.176, which outlines the criteria for determining an LEA's capacity to issue bonds under the Impact Aid Programs. This regulation is part of the broader framework established to support educational funding in areas with limited financial resources.