Jefferson County’s Series 2024 sewer warrant refinancing has been awarded The Bond Buyer’s Southeast Region Deal of the Year. The County’s sewer warrant issue is a finalist to be named the national Deal of the Year with the winner expected to be named in December.

Jefferson County’s sewer warrant debt refinance checked a number of boxes for The Bond Buyer’s awards criteria and is considered a great turnaround story for the County that achieved significant ratepayer savings while reducing risk and future debt-service.

The County completed its refinance of $2.24 billion of sewer revenue warrants on January 30, 2024, for a gross savings of $1.17 billion, which reduced the County’s payments on the overall sewer debt over the life of the warrants. In addition, the deal was accomplished without extending the term of the sewer debt and included a provision for a customer assistance program while stabilizing rate increases. The County Commission’s commitment to sound financial practices over the past 10 years created the opportunity and conditions for the refinancing to take place.

“This deal was the culmination of promises made when Commissioner Knight and I took office,” said Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “We pledged to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars and to work to reduce the debt owed by the County and this deal represented a gross savings of over $1 billion dollars, so we kept those promises to citizens.”

The financing team that worked with the county to manage the transaction includes underwriters: Raymond James and Associates; Stifel, Nicolaus & Company; B of A Securities; Morgan Stanley & Company; Siebert Williams & Shank, Co.; Loop Capital Markets; Jefferies and Piper Sandler & Company.