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Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEEs)

Transportation Finance Innovations

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Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEEs) enable States to pay debt service and other bond-related expenses with future Federal-aid highway funds. The law authorizing GARVEEs, however, makes it clear that a debt-financing instrument's eligibility for reimbursement with future Federal-aid highway funding does not constitute a commitment, guarantee, or other obligation by the United States, nor does it create any right of a third party (such as an investor) against the Federal Government for payment.

How Do They Work?

A GARVEE is a debt-financing instrument authorized to receive Federal reimbursement of debt service and related financing costs under Section 122 of Title 23, United States Code. GARVEEs can be issued by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a public authority. States can receive Federal-aid reimbursements for a wide array of debt-related costs incurred in connection with an eligible debt-financing instrument, such as a bond, note, certificate, mortgage, or lease. Reimbursable debt-related costs include interest payments, retirement of principal, and any other cost incidental to the sale of an eligible debt instrument.

In general, projects funded with the proceeds of a GARVEE debt instrument are subject to the same requirements as other Federal-aid projects with the exception of the reimbursement process. Instead of reimbursing construction costs as they are incurred, the reimbursement of GARVEE project costs occurs when debt service is due. For a GARVEE, a State may request partial conversion of advance construction project(s) to coincide with debt-service payments, allowing for effective use of obligation authority.

It is important to note that, in order to issue GARVEE bonds, States or the issuing entity must have the appropriate State authorizations related to debt issuance. States have the flexibility to tailor GARVEE financings to accommodate State fiscal and legal conditions.

What Are the Benefits?

The GARVEE financing mechanism generates up-front capital for major highway projects at generally tax-exempt rates and enables a State to construct a project earlier than if using traditional pay-as-you go grant resources. With projects in place sooner, costs are lower due to inflation savings, and the public realizes safety and economic benefits. By paying with future Federal highway reimbursements, the cost of the facility is spread over its useful life, rather than just the construction period. GARVEEs can expand access to capital markets as a supplement to general obligation or revenue bonds.

How Is It Used?

Candidates for GARVEE financing are typically large projects (or programs of projects) that have the following characteristics:

• The costs of delay outweigh the costs of financing.
• Other borrowing approaches may not be feasible or are limited in capacity.
• The project does not have access to a revenue stream, and other forms of repayment are not feasible.
• The sponsors are willing to reserve a portion of future year Federal-aid highway funds to satisfy debt-service requirements.

States are finding GARVEEs to be an attractive financing mechanism to bridge funding gaps and to accelerate construction of major corridor projects.

Potential Advantages

• Accelerate selected projects and increase number of projects that can be built with existing revenue.
• Borrow at relatively low interest rates (tax-exempt rates apply).
• Provide mechanism for claiming interest and issuance costs as Federal-aid eligible costs.
• Provide economic and fiscal stimulus as proceeds are expended.
• Enable potential economies of scale in construction.
• Mitigate inflation risk in construction and right-of-way costs.

Potential Limitations

• Reduce financial, programmatic, and political flexibility for those years in which debt service consumes a portion of the annual transportation program.
• May cause economic and fiscal drag as debt service is repaid.
• May lead to capacity constraints with respect to availability of contractors, consultants, construction materials, and labor and public agencies.
• May lead to induced inflation as GARVEE proceeds "goose" market.

Considerations

• Oversight and reporting responsibilities required for life of GARVEE instrument and for a reasonable period thereafter.
• Record-keeping and accounting requirements also expanded; procedures must be documented, especially where they differ from regular Federal-aid process (e.g., claiming of reimbursement for debt service, not construction).

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