Saturday, September 26, 2015

Bloomberg: State selling $200 million in bonds

The state is selling $200 million in bonds to finance the repair of bridges in Mississippi.  The bonds will be repaid with gambling revenue (JJ refuses to use the term "gaming".)  Bloomberg reported:


Mississippi, the poorest U.S. state, is selling its first bonds backed by gambling taxes after its share of the winnings fell to the lowest since 1997, two casinos closed and its neighbors began looking at expanding into the business. Investors may still like the odds.

The $200 million of bonds carry Standard & Poor’s fifth-highest credit rating because the state’s gaming revenue covers the debt service 10 times over, even though it’s fallen almost 30 percent from the 2008 peak.

Potential competition from neighboring states, along with closures of a Harrah’s casino in Tunica and another on the Gulf Coast, may lead the the state to dangle higher-than-average yields to draw buyers to the offering on Wednesday, said Burt Mulford at Eagle Asset Management.

“There has been a trend of decline in this sector in terms of state gaming revenue,” said Mulford, a manager of tax-exempt funds for the St. Petersburg, Florida-based firm, which holds $2.4 billion of municipal bonds. “It’ll come at a very wide spread, at least initially, and because it’s a name a lot of managers don’t own, they’re going to want to add it.”...

In addition to the two casinos that closed last year, the Isle of Capri Casino in Natchez will shutter next month, according to bond documents. Offsetting that, a new one is set to be built by the end of 2015 along the Gulf Coast with more than twice as many slot machines and seven times as many table games.

Mississippi’s tax revenue from gambling fell in the 2014 budget year to about $164 million, a 17-year low, from as much as $230 million in 2008, according to offering documents. For the 12 months ended June 30, the collections totaled $167 million.

The state’s view on the gaming industry “is it’s going to be stable for quite some time,” Mark Valentine, director of the bond advisory division in Mississippi, said in an interview. “It’s not like there’s just one or two casinos.”.... Rest of article.

HB #1360 passed the legislature this year with almost no opposing votes.  It passed the Senate on an unanimous vote while three representatives voted against it in the house.  


15 comments:

Lady DeLuxe said...

The state needs to go ahead and add OTB and a sports book. The Miss. market is lagging behind other states that have recently expanded casino gambling.

Anonymous said...

Oh my! I'm so crazy, I thought gambling money was going to be used for our schools!!! I must Be so dumb😏

Anonymous said...

Uh oh. Using gambling revenue for something other than paying bloated salaries of unnecessary school administrators? Prepare for another ballot referendum.

Anonymous said...

There was never any statement of intent to use gaming revenue for education. That's a fairy tale that evidently has no ending. There was - in the mid-60's - an intent but not a directive to use liquor revenue (when state came out from under prohibition) to direct new revenue to education.

When gaming was approved, there was the obvious result that there would be new tax revenue, and it would help with a number of needs in the state, including of course - education. But it was not 'set aside' for any purpose.

With one exception. There was a portion of the gaming tax set aside for the construction of new roads required for the gaming venues. Particularly, it was for the new highway connecting Tunica in a straight shot from I-55. Over the years, other roads have been built/improved with this set-aside money.

From what I understand, these bonds are being secured by this set-aside money for roads, seeing as how there is no particular new need for roads to/around gaming venues. But there is a major need for bridge replacement throughout the state.

Thru this bond deal, MDOT is taking some of the money in the 'gaming road fund' and using it for securitizing this new debt. This deal sold sometime this week and went exceptionally well from what I heard - all bonds sold and at the high rating expected. Frankly, seems to me like one time that MDOT did something forward thinking. Thank God Butch Brown is no longer there to hold us back!

Anonymous said...

Well, School Buses drive over these bridges with might precious cargo. Seriously, we must do something and obviously MDOT is not into maintenance that requires large sums of money.

Anonymous said...

"The bonds will be repaid with gambling revenue" - does that mean they will take bets on when the old bridges will fall down?

Anonymous said...

How bout a damn lottery?

Anonymous said...

I thought the plan was to generate about $450 million in bonds for bridges? did the senate kill that?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for not using the word "gaming."

TheGryphon said...

How about an effective, sufficient, non regressive income tax instead of this variable and regressive measure?

Anonymous said...

I guess this means we will not be taxed at the pump as we now are to pay for the roads.

Google Is Our Friend said...

5:10; This link refutes your claim that gambling revenue was never intended to go to education in the first place.

http://pracademics.com/attachments/article/627/SympAr2%20FrenchStanley.pdf

Anonymous said...

Lady Deluxe - I was going to axe you what OTB is, but I knew some smartass would come along and tell me I should have Googled it rather than axing. So I Googled it. Now I know:

"OTB
Not neccesary someone that is "off the boat" but acts like he/she is. They only communicate and make friends with other Russians and will always prefer to talk in Russian rather than English."

Anonymous said...

5:10 PM is an idiot.

Taxes from gambling absolutely were touted as THE way to pay for education. Not only that....at the same time gambling passed rather unnoticed.....a lottery was shot down which was all the rage to pay for education. Florida had a lottery at the same time and they were making a killing.

bill said...

Participation in one of the multi-state lotteries - a voluntary tax, really - seems like a no brainer to me, but I don't have casino lobbyists throwing bags of money at me to keep it from coming to a vote.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.