INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS
Category: Local
Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) provide a source of tax-exempt or taxable bond finance for projects involving significant private activity that promote new and existing businesses, encourage employment, and expand the tax base of a community. IRBs are issued by Industrial Development Corporations sponsored by a government unit, but their proceeds are passed on to private businesses, which are generally responsible for debt service payment. Who Can Apply? Industrial Development Corporations (IDCs) or equivalent bodies whose creation by cities, counties or conservation and reclamation districts is authorized by the Development Corporation Act of 1979. IDC’s must issue IRBs on behalf of a city, county or conservation and reclamation district for the benefit of private companies for eligible projects within their jurisdiction. Another governmental unit outside of the IDC’s jurisdiction may request the IDC to issue bonds on its behalf. Tax-exempt or taxable bonds issued on behalf of private companies for eligible projects, as defined in the Development Corporation Act of 1979. Generally, the bond debt service is paid by the private company under the terms of a lease, sale, or loan agreement. As such, the bonds do not constitute debts of or obligations of the sponsoring governmental unit, the IDC, or the State of Texas, except for Sales Tax Bonds There are several types of IRBs available: Tax-Exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds for Manufacturing Projects: Issued to finance land and depreciable property for manufacturing facilities. An annual lottery is held for volume cap allocation. Maximum Issue Amount: $10,000,000 Maximum Project Capital Expenditure: $20,000,000. Subject to State Volume Cap? Yes. Exempt-Facility Bonds: Issued to finance certain facilities such as airports, dock and wharf facilities, mass commuting facilities, high-speed inter-city rail facilities, or certain qualified hazardous waste facilities. Facility must be governmentally owned, but may be leased or subject to management contracts with business. Maximum Issue Amount: No limit; Maximum Project Capital Expenditure: No Limit; Subject to State Volume Cap? Depends on facility type. Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds: Maximum Issue Amount: No limit; Maximum Project Capital Expenditure: No limit; Subject to State Volume Cap? No. Sales Tax Bonds: Bonds are available only to those cities which have adopted an economic development sales and use tax.