Texas debt issuance expected to climb 79% in fiscal 2023

Texas state agencies expect to issue about $14.42 billion of debt in fiscal 2023, which would be a $6.37 billion or 79.1% increase over projections for fiscal 2022, according to a report from the state's Bond Review Board. 

The state ended fiscal 2022 on Aug. 31 with total outstanding debt of $64.4 billion, up from $63.21 billion in fiscal 2021, the board's annual report released in December said. The majority at 58.6% is backed by revenue and 26.8% carry the state's general obligation pledge. 

Texas skipped an August cash-flow borrowing for a second year in a row after state Comptroller Glenn Hegar in July announced record tax revenue collections.

The triple-A-rated state ended fiscal 2022 with a consolidated general fund cash balance of $33.74 billion, up 134% from fiscal 2021's ending balance of $14.42 billion.  It last sold tax and revenue anticipation notes totaling $7.2 billion in August 2020.

Texas Comptroller's Office

In fiscal 2022, the state remained below its constitutional debt limit, which prohibits annual debt service paid from general revenue from exceeding 5% of the average annual unrestricted general fund revenue for the previous three fiscal years. 

Outstanding debt was at 1.11%, while authorized but unissued debt was at 1.14% for a total of 2.25%, the report said.

Texas ranked 36th among states in net tax-supported debt per capita, according to Moody's Investors Service.

The weighted average of issuance costs for state bond issuers dipped in fiscal 2022 to $5.53 per $1,000 versus $5.55 per $1,000 in fiscal 2021, while issuance sizes ranged from $13.2 million to $832.1 million, the bond review board report showed.

Local governments had $284.15 billion of debt outstanding in fiscal 2022, with 65.7% backed by property taxes and the rest paid with revenue generated by projects including water, sewer, and electric utility fees.

School districts accounted for the largest share of the debt at 36.7%, followed by cities at nearly 32%, and water districts at 15.4%.

"Since fiscal year 2018, tax-supported (local government) debt outstanding increased 24.4% and revenue debt outstanding increased 21%," the report said. 

The Texas Bond Review Board is responsible for the approval of all state debt issues and lease purchase obligations with an initial principal amount greater than $250,000 or a term of longer than five years.

The board, which is composed of the governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker, and state comptroller or their alternates, is also responsible for the collection, analysis, and reporting of information on state debt as well as the debt of local political subdivisions in Texas.