Tag Archives: M11

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Tax-Free Bonds

Perspective:

In the November 2022 elections, a significant number of school bond referenda were presented to voters across the United States. For example, in Wisconsin alone, there were 57 successful capital referenda amounting to nearly $2.1 billion in authorized debt​ (Wisconsin Policy Forum)

In Texas, Central Texas schools had a total of $4.24 billion in bonds on the ballot, covering various propositions for school facilities, technology improvements, and athletic facilities​ (Fox 7 Austin)

In California and Arkansas, bond measures totaling $74 million — including school choice — were aimed at addressing school facility improvements​ (The74Million)

Voters in 16 North Carolina counties approved bond issues totaling $4.27 billion, with $3.08 billion dedicated to K-12 public school construction and improvements​ (EducationNC)

 

“The cure for high prices, is high prices” — They say.

Today we explore fiscal runaway in the US education “industry” with particular interest in the financing instruments for building the real assets that are the beating heart of culture in neighborhoods, cities, counties and states.  We steer clear of social and political issues.

August & November 2024 Local & National Election Referenda

The marketing of these projects — and how the loans are paid off — provides insight into the costs and benefits of this $100+ billion industry; the largest non-residential building construction market in the United States.

Educational Settlement Finance

We cannot do much to stop the hyperbolically rising cost of administrative functionaries but we can force the incumbents we describe in our ABOUT to work a little harder to reduce un-used (or un-useable) space and reduce maintenance cost.  Sometimes simple questions result in obvious answers that result in significant savings.

More recently hybrid teaching and learning space, owing the the circumstances of the pandemic, opens new possibilities for placing downward pressure on cost.

 

Election Day: Tuesday, February 14, 2023

2023 School Bond Prospectus


Gallery: School Bond Referenda (August & November Ballots)


Regulation or Money-Laundering?

After Architect-Engineers and Building Construction Contractors (many of whom finance election advocacy enterprises) the following organizations are involved in placing a bond on the open market:

  1. School Districts: Individual school districts issue bonds to fund construction or renovation of school facilities, purchase equipment, or cover other educational expenses. Each school district is responsible for managing its own bond issuances.
  2. Colleges and Universities: Higher education institutions, such as universities and colleges, issue bonds to finance campus expansions, construction of new academic buildings, dormitories, research facilities, and other capital projects.
  3. State-Level Agencies: Many states have agencies responsible for overseeing and coordinating bond issuances for schools and universities. These agencies may facilitate bond sales, help ensure compliance with state regulations, and provide financial assistance to educational institutions.
  4. Municipal Finance Authorities: Municipal finance authorities at the state or local level often play a role in facilitating bond transactions for educational entities. They may act as intermediaries in the bond issuance process.
  5. Investment Banks and Underwriters: Investment banks and underwriters assist educational institutions in structuring and selling their bonds to investors. They help determine bond terms, market the bonds, and manage the offering.
  6. Bond Counsel: Bond counsel, typically law firms, provide legal advice to educational institutions on bond issuances. They help ensure that the bond issuance complies with all legal requirements and regulations.
  7. Rating Agencies: Rating agencies, such as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings, assess the creditworthiness of the bonds and assign credit ratings. These ratings influence the interest rates at which the bonds can be issued.
  8. Investors: Various institutional and individual investors, including mutual funds, pension funds, and individual bond buyers, purchase school and university bonds as part of their investment portfolios.
  9. Financial Advisors: Financial advisory firms provide guidance to educational institutions on bond issuances, helping them make informed financial decisions related to borrowing and debt management.
  10. Regulatory Authorities: Federal and state regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state-specific agencies, oversee and regulate the issuance of bonds to ensure compliance with securities laws and financial regulations.

These organizations collectively contribute to the process of issuing, selling, and managing school and university bonds in the United States, allowing educational institutions to raise the necessary funds for their capital projects and operations. The specific entities involved may vary depending on the size and location of the educational institution and the nature of the bond issuance.

Bond issuances affect local property values.

 

We Plough the Fields and Scatter

WelcomeOur Campus

The lyrics were originally written in German by poet Matthias Claudius in 1782 as part of a larger work titled “Paul Erdmanns Fest” which reflects an appreciation for the agricultural cycle. The hymn was later translated into English by Jane Montgomery Campbell in 1861. The melody most commonly associated with the hymn is a traditional German tune, adapted by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz.

The hymn expresses gratitude for the earth’s bounty and acknowledges God as the ultimate provider of all good things. Its verses celebrate the act of sowing and reaping, emphasizing the cooperation between human effort and divine blessing. “We Plow the Fields and Scatter” has become a staple in Christian liturgy, particularly during harvest celebrations and Thanksgiving services, symbolizing a collective acknowledgment of and thanks for God’s abundant gifts.

Standards Ontario

CSA Group

 

Standards November: Libraries

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I-Codes

Hephaestus: God of Fire, Metalwork, and Building

Today we survey the broad sweep of the International Code Council catalog of best practice titles; incorporated by reference into public safety regulations in most of the United States.  This session will be a “survey” and “organizational” session when we limit detail and simply identify priority titles and the technical specifics in play over the next twelve months.

Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

2024/2025/2026 International Code Council Code Development Schedule

Complete Monographs (To be posted soon)

International Green Construction Code: Definitions

International Fire Code

Storm Shelters

Hammurabi

International Energy Conservation Code

Sport Occupancies

International Mechanical Code

Higher Education Laboratories

Interior Finishes

Morning Shower

International Building Code | Electrical

Day Care

Stadium & Arena Structural Engineering

Off-Site Construction

K-TAG Matrix for Healthcare Facilities

 

Woke Thanksgiving Parody

Gallery: History of Thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper Cleaner

Centrifugal paper cleaners are used in the pulp and paper industry to remove unwanted contaminants from pulp or paper stock. These contaminants can include dirt, sand, shives, small fibers, and other impurities that can affect the quality of the final paper product. Centrifugal cleaners work on the principle of centrifugal force and are typically installed in the stock preparation stage of papermaking processes.  Here’s how they work:

Inlet: The pulp or paper stock containing contaminants is fed into the centrifugal cleaner through an inlet. The inlet is designed to create a tangential flow of the stock, which imparts a swirling motion to the mixture.

Centrifugal Force: Once inside the cleaner, the stock and contaminants are subjected to centrifugal force due to the rapid rotation of the cleaner’s inner drum or rotor. The centrifugal force causes the heavier contaminants to move toward the outer wall of the cleaner, while the cleaner stock moves toward the center of the drum.

Separation: The contaminants, being heavier, are forced against the outer wall of the cleaner by the centrifugal force, and they accumulate there. The clean stock, which is lighter and free of contaminants, moves toward the center of the cleaner.

Outlet: The cleaned stock exits the cleaner through the center outlet, while the accumulated contaminants are removed from the outer wall. The contaminants can be periodically purged from the cleaner to maintain its efficiency.

Adjustment: Centrifugal cleaners often have adjustable settings to control the separation efficiency. Operators can vary the cleaner’s operating parameters, such as the feed rate, drum speed, and cone angle, to optimize the separation process for different types of contaminants and pulp or paper stocks.

They can operate continuously and provide high efficiency in removing heavy contaminants such as coffee filters. They are often used in conjunction with other cleaning processes, such as screening and flotation, to achieve the desired quality and cleanliness of the pulp or paper stock before it is used in the papermaking process.

 

Facilities: North Carolina State University

North Carolina

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