Wikipedia Overview on Municipal Bankruptcies

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The focus of our next meeting (May 8th) will be the “Looming Federal Bailouts of Illinois and Detroit, Etc., Etc., Etc.” caused primarily by under-funding of state and local pension plans that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated in 2011 probably amounts to $4 TRillion.

Recent events include the spectacle of the bankruptcy filing of Stockton CA being supported by Calpers (the California state-employee pension fund) but opposed by bondholders because Stockton proposes to short-change bondholders disproportionately in order to protect Calpers.

While the bankruptcy filing of San Bernardino CA is opposed by Calpers and supported by bondholders because San Bernardino proposes to treat all creditors equally.

And Detroit MI was even denied the privilege of filing for bankruptcy by the Governor of Michigan who announced a state takeover two months ago (local governments are chartered by each state which can modify or revoke the charter at any time). Yesterday (4/12/2013) the Mayor of Detroit who no longer has any power, proposed a budget with a $380 million deficit, and the Dictator of Detroit appointed by the Governor, issued a press release rebuking the Mayor and reminding him that he has no authority.

We will also study why municipalities get a “free pass” under the Bankruptcy Law. After all, if homeowners in a geographical area formed a partnership to provide themselves with police and fire protection, schools for their children, etc., all of the homeowners would be personally liable for the debts of the partnership, including unfunded pension liabilities.

If the homeowners had used a real partnership instead of calling their partnership a “municipal government,” creditors such as their employees suing for their pensions, would be able to obtain in Federal Bankruptcy Court such remedies as attaching the salaries of all the residents, and liquidating their assets (INCLUDING THE FORECLOSURE OF THEIR HOMES subject to any so-called Homestead Exemptions) to pay the pensions.

This could, of course, turn the geographical area into a proverbial Ghost Town. Which Detroit and many other urban centers, already are.

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Even if the pols wanted the federal government to bail out all the profligate state and local governments, would the federal government have the financial capacity for doing so???

And what if, for example, the federal government could only bail out the pensions for the employees of the profligate (primarily Blue) states and their local governments, by eliminating Social Security for the general population???

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There do not appear to be any books on this topic, so this is another occasion for which we will have to do our own homework.

The initial reference materials posted in this section include --

(1) The 2011 analysis of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office explaining why the under-funding of state and local pension plans is calculated to approximate $4 TRillion.

(2) The Wikipedia overview on municipal bankruptcies.

(3) The statutory text of Chapter 9 of the Federal Bankruptcy Law which governs municipal bankruptcies.

(4) The 1/28/2013 Reuters article about Detroit’s looming bankruptcy.

(5) The 4/12/2013 Reuters article describing the War of the Budget between Detroit’s Mayor and Detroit’s State-Appointed Dictator.

(6) The 4/3/2013 Reuters article describing the War Between Calpers and The Bondholders of Stockton CA and San Bernardino CA.
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johnkarls
Posts: 2034
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:43 pm

Wikipedia Overview on Municipal Bankruptcies

Post by johnkarls »

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Wikipedia
Chapter 9, Title 11, United States Code

Chapter 9, Title 11 of the United States Code is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, available exclusively to municipalities and assists them in the restructuring of debts. The two largest municipal bankruptcies under Chapter 9 have been Jefferson County, Alabama in 2011 and Orange County, California in 1994. ("Municipality" under the Bankruptcy Code includes many types of governmental units besides cities.[1])

Contents

1 History
2 Features of Chapter 9
2.1 Collective bargaining
2.2 Some states do not permit Chapter 9 filings without authorization
3 Notable Chapter 9 bankruptcies
3.1 Partial list of municipal bankruptcies
3.2 Municipalities placed under receivership
3.3 Hospital district Chapter 9 bankruptcies
3.4 Other entities that declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy
3.5 Chapter 9 bankruptcy petitions that were filed but voluntarily dismissed
3.6 Petitions for Chapter 9 relief that were denied
3.7 Notable defaults that did not result in Chapter 9 bankruptcy
3.8 Notable bankruptcies that were declared ineligible for Chapter 9 bankruptcy
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

History

Recent Chapter 9 filing counts
Year Filings
2006 5
2007 6
2008 4
2009 12
2010 6
2011 13
1st half 2012 7

From 1937 to 2008 there were fewer than 600 municipal bankruptcies.[2] As of June 2012 the total is now around 640.[3]

[RL Editorial Note = 600/72 = 8.33/year for 1937-2008; 40/3.5 = 11.43/year for 2009-2012, so not as big a difference as it sounds.]

Previous to the creation of Chapter 9 bankruptcy, the only remedy when a municipality was unable to pay its creditors was for the creditors to pursue an action of mandamus, and compel the municipality to raise taxes. During the Great Depression, this approach proved impossible, so in 1934, the Bankruptcy Act was amended to extend to municipalities.[4][5] The 1934 Amendment was declared unconstitutional in Ashton v. Cameron County Water District.[6] However, a revised act remedying the constitutional deficiencies was passed again by Congress in 1937 and codified as Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act (later redesignated as Chapter IX).[7] This revised act was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in United States v. Bekins.[8] Chapter IX was largely unchanged until it was amended in 1976 in response to New York City's financial crisis.[9] The changes made in 1976 were adopted nearly identically in the modern 1978 Bankruptcy Code as Chapter 9. In 1988, Chapter 9 was amended by Congress to provide statutory protection from § 552(a) lien stripping provisions to revenue bonds issued by municipalities. This was addressed with the classification of these bonds as "special revenues" under the newly minted § 928(a) and § 922(d) exemption of special revenues from the automatic stay provisions of § 362.[10]

To prevent overlap with Chapter 11, 11 USC § 101(41) of the US Bankruptcy code defines the term "person" to exclude many so called "governmental units" as defined in 11 USC § 101(27), and "Municipality" as defined in § 101(40).

Features of Chapter 9

While in many ways similar to other forms of bankruptcy reorganization (Chapters 11, 12, and 13), Chapter 9 has a number of unique characteristics. Because municipalities are entities of State governments, the power of Congress to adjust their debts through bankruptcy is limited considerably by the 10th and 11th Amendments.

Collective bargaining

Municipalities' ability to re-write collective bargaining agreements is much greater than in a corporate Chapter 11 bankruptcy[11] and can trump state labor protections,[12] allowing cities to renegotiate unsustainable pension or other benefits packages negotiated in flush times.[13]

"Congress did not extend the same projection [sic] to public employees that it did to those working in the private sector under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules."[14]

Some states do not permit Chapter 9 filings without authorization

Municipalities in 26 states must seek enactment of a specific statute particular to it authorizing the filing.[15]

New Jersey, Connecticut, and Kentucky simply give a state appointed official or body the power to approve a filing.[16]

Notable Chapter 9 bankruptcies

Partial list of municipal bankruptcies

· Note: Larger bankruptcies are ALL CAPS
· Hamilton Creek Metropolitan District, a quasi-municipal corporation in Summit County, Colorado, 1989[17]
· HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, The best estimates put total debt over $1.5 billion which would mean that every resident would owe $30,285.[25] These numbers do not reflect the debt of the school system ($13 million deficit expected for 2012), or unfunded pension and healthcare obligations.
· ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 1994, $1.7 billion[18] (largest municipal bankruptcy until November 2011, and $3 billion when adjusted for inflation[19]), on interest rate-related losses[20] (see Robert Citron).
· Prichard, Alabama, 1999, due to inability to pay pensions.[21]
· Desert Hot Springs, California, 2001, due to losing a housing discrimination lawsuit.[22][23]
· Millport, Alabama, 2005, due to loss of sales tax revenues after factory closing.[24]
· Los Osos, California, 2006, debt related to a wastewater facility.[25]
· Moffett, Oklahoma, 2007, due to loss of ability to issue traffic tickets.[26]
· Gould, Arkansas, 2008,[27] due to spending money withheld to pay employee income taxes.
· VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, 2008, due to inability to pay pension obligations.[28]
· Westfall Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania, 2009, due to losing a lawsuit[29]
· Washington Park, Illinois, 2009, due to high license fees for topless bars being ruled unconstitutional.[30]
· Prichard, Alabama, 2009, due to inability to pay pensions and especially state mandated pension increases.[31]
· Central Falls, Rhode Island, August 2011, due to inability to pay obligations, especially pensions.[32]
· JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABANA, November 2011, over $4 billion in debt (largest Chapter 9 bankruptcy to date),[18] from sewer revenue bonds tainted by an interest rate swap bribery scandal with JPMorgan and county commissioner Larry Langford, and bond insurance credit rating collapse in the late-2000s subprime mortgage crisis, followed by the occupation tax being declared unlawful in Alabama.[20][33] (see Jefferson County, Alabama: Sewer construction and bond swap controversy)
· STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, June 28, 2012, Stockton filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Stockton is the largest city to file for bankruptcy in U.S. history.[34]
· Mammoth Lakes, California on July 3, 2012 [2]
· SAN BERNADINO, CALIFORNIA on August 1, 2012 [3]

Municipalities placed under receivership

The city of Central Falls, Rhode Island petitioned to be put into receivership in 2010, as Rhode Island does not generally permit Chapter 9 filings. The state appointed receiver or overseer assumed all financial responsibilities from the mayor. Rhode Island's receivership law was rewritten to allow the receiver the ability to file a petition for Chapter 9 federal bankruptcy and Central Falls has done that.[35]

Hospital district Chapter 9 bankruptcies

A hospital district is a governmental entity, generally with taxing authority, that owns and operates medical facilities.

· The Valley Health System district, California[36]
· West Contra Costa Healthcare District, California[37]

Hardeman County Memorial Hospital, Quanah Texas http://texomashomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=260272

Other entities that declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy

· San Jose Unified School District, 1983.[38]
· WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM (WPPSS), 1983, due to halt in construction of planned nuclear reactors.
· The West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority owner of VisionLand Park now known as Alabama Adventure Theme Park, 2002, due to business that could not support its debt.[39]
· Pierce County Housing Authority, 2008, in Pierce County, Washington, residents' lawsuits due to mold in properties.[40]
· Sarpy County Sanitation Improvement District, 2009, in Sarpy County, Nebraska, due to reduced real estate development.[41]
· New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, December 2009, in New York City, due to mismanagement,[42]
· Connector 2000 Association, operator of the Southern Connector, 2010, due to toll collections being less than expected.[43]

Chapter 9 bankruptcy petitions that were filed but voluntarily dismissed

· Richmond Unified School District, California, 1991[44] After the District filed its petition, the state loaned the District funds to bridge its budget gap, but also appointed an administrator to take over management of the District. The administrator requested that the bankruptcy court dismiss the petition, and this was granted.

Petitions for Chapter 9 relief that were denied

· In 1991, the petition for relief filed by the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was denied.[45] The case was dismissed because the bankruptcy court concluded that Bridgeport, although financially distressed, was not insolvent within the meaning of the eligibility criteria of Chapter 9.
· In 2010, the city of Hamtramck, Michigan requested permission from the Governor under Michigan's authorizing law to file a petition for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy,[46] but was denied. Instead of bankruptcy, the treasury advised that Hamtramck be offered a selection of loan options.[47]
· Washington Park, Illinois December 2010. Washington Park briefly emerged from bankruptcy and then filed a new petition for bankruptcy which was rejected by the judge, who stated there was no Illinois state law enabling a municipality to file a Chapter 9 bankruptcy petition.[48]
· Boise County, Idaho, March 2011, due to judgment against the county for violating the Fair Housing Act.[49] The bankruptcy petition was dismissed by the judge after concluding the municipality had “sufficient surplus moneys” to satisfy the judgment and continue operations.[50]
· Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 2011, approximately $400 million in debt, due in part to a failed trash incinerator.[51] The bankruptcy judge dismissed the bankruptcy petition on the grounds that not all necessary branches of the municipal government had authorized the filing of the petition.[52]

Notable defaults that did not result in Chapter 9 bankruptcy

· Cleveland, Ohio, 1978, dispute with city creditors over sale of a utility.[53]

Notable bankruptcies that were declared ineligible for Chapter 9 bankruptcy

· The Las Vegas Monorail Company was declared a private entity, not an eligible governmental entity, in 2010.[54][55]

See also

· Financially Distressed Municipalities Act, State of Pennsylvania Act. 47

References

1. ^ 11 U.S.C. § 101(40) ("The term 'municipality' means political subdivision or public agency or instrumentality of a State.")
2. ^ MuniNetGuide: Vallejo Bankruptcy Filing Garners Attention in Municipal Finance Circles
3. ^ http://www.boston.com/2012/06/27/stockt ... ory-1.html
4. ^ Pub. L. No. 251, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., 48 Stat. 798 (1934).
5. ^ Public Law Research Institute: Municipal Bankruptcy: State Authorization Under the federal Bankruptcy Code
6. ^ 298 U.S. 513, 56 S. Ct. 892, 80 L. Ed. 1309 (1936).
7. ^ An Act to Amend an Act Entitled An Act to Establish a Uniform System of Bankruptcy Throughout the United States,, Pub. L. No. 302, 75th Cong., 1st Sess., 50 Stat. 653 (1937).
8. ^ 304 U.S. 27 (1938)(holding the Municipal Corporation Bankruptcy Act constitutional under both the Fifth and the Tenth Amendments)
9. ^ An Act to Amend Chapter IX of the Bankruptcy Act to Provide by Voluntary Reorganization Procedures for the Adjustment of the Debts of Municipalities, Pub. L. No. 94-260, 94th Cong., 2d Sess. (1976).
10. ^ See Steven Lessard & Richard Ngo, Riding the Juice Train to Bankruptcy: Ch. 9 Eligibility After In re Las Vegas Monorail Company, NORTON JOURNAL OF BANKRUPTCY LAW & PRACTICE, Vol. 20, No.3, Article 4 (2011); see also An Act to Amend the Bankruptcy Law to Provide for Special Revenue Bonds and for Other Purposes, PUB. L. NO. 100-597 (1988); Municipal Bankruptcy Amendments, Pub L. No 100597 (1988); 4 COLLIER ON BANKRUPTCY 902.01A, 902-3 (15th ed. 1996)
11. ^ In re City of Vallejo, 08-26813-A-9 (E. Dist. Calif.).
12. ^ "Contracts Now Seen as Being Rewritable". The New York Times. 2009-03-31.
13. ^ http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202429132330
14. ^ P.G. explores bankruptcy option
15. ^ Bankruptcy Bloodbath May Hit Muni Owners: Joe Mysak (Update1)
16. ^ Municipal Bankruptcy: State Authorization Under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, PLRI
17. ^ HAMILTON CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT v. BONDHOLDERS COLORADO BONDSHARES
18. ^ a b Van Anglen, Jim; Condon, Bernard (November 9, 2011). "Alabama county files for largest municipal bankruptcy". CBS News (Montgomery, Alabama). Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
19. ^ Staff. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2012. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
20. ^ a b Church, Steven; Selway, William; McCarty, Dawn (Wed Nov 09 23:46:41 GMT 2011). "Jefferson County Alabama Files Bankruptcy". Bloomberg.com (New York City: Bloomberg L.P.). Retrieved 2011-11-10.
21. ^ Analysis of Factors Associated with the Municipal Bankruptcy of Pichard, Alabama
22. ^ The City of Desert Hot Springs filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy papers in late December, making it the first California city in at least 25 years to seek bankruptcy protection[dead link]
23. ^ California City files for bankruptcy protection[dead link]
24. ^ Millport making a comeback
25. ^ After 6 years, Los Osos CSD bankruptcy plan approved
26. ^ Oklahoma: Speed Trap Town Goes Bankrupt
27. ^ Bankruptcy filed, tiny town hopes to rise again
28. ^ Vallejo's path to bankruptcy - Vallejo Times Herald
29. ^ [1]
30. ^ Washington Park seeks bankruptcy protection[dead link]
31. ^ Prichard files for bankruptcy protection again
32. ^ Rhode Island's Central Falls files for bankruptcy
33. ^ Selway, William (Fri Sep 16 17:41:31 GMT 2011). "Jefferson County’s Journey From Sewer-Bond Scandal to Settlement: Timeline". Bloomberg.com (New York City: Bloomberg L.P.). Retrieved 2011-11-10.
34. ^ "Stockton, California files for bankruptcy". Reuters. June 28, 2012.
35. ^ Rhode Island city overseer starts by firing mayor[dead link]
36. ^ Hospitals file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy : North County Times - Californian
37. ^ Rauber, Chris (2006-10-02). "Doctors Medical Center files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection".
38. ^ SAN JOSE SCHOOLS CAN CUT PAY, U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT RULES
39. ^ VisionLand debt prompts Chapter 9 filing
40. ^ Pierce County's low-cost housing filing for bankruptcy
41. ^ Sarpy County SID Files For Bankruptcy
42. ^ New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation Facts
43. ^ Connector 2000 Association Files Chapter 9 Bankruptcy
44. ^ In re Richmond Unified Sch. Dist., 133 B.R. 221, 224 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 1991)
45. ^ http://business-finance-restructuring.w ... z23Dly2TDy
46. ^ Letter requesting permission from the Governor of Michigan for Hamtramck to declare bankruptcy[dead link]
47. ^ CORRECT: Michigan Forbids City To Seek Municipal Bankruptcy[dead link]
48. ^ Judge throws out Ill. village's bankruptcy case
49. ^ Boise County files for bankruptcy[dead link]
50. ^ Judge rejects Boise County’s bankruptcy filing
51. ^ Tavernise, Sabrina (12 October 2011). "City Council in Harrisburg Files Petition of Bankruptcy". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
52. ^ Judge Rejects Harrisburg Bankruptcy Move
53. ^ Three Decades After Cleveland Defaulted on Its Debts, Cities Face Recession Budget Woes
54. ^ Las Vegas Monorail Determined Ineligible for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy
55. ^ Steven Lessard & Richard Ngo, Riding the Juice Train to Bankruptcy: Chapter 9 Eligibility After In Re Las Vegas Monorail Company, NORTON ANNUAL SURVEY OF BANKRUPTCY LAW, Vol. 20, No.3, Article 4 (2011).

External links

· Adjustment of Debts of a Municipality
· GASB Accounting and Financial Reporting for Chapter 9 Bankruptcies
· Number of Ch. 9 filings by year data from the American Bankruptcy Institute
· Avoiding and Using Chapter 9 in Times of Fiscal Stress, john knox and marc levinson, ORRICK
· Ohio Local Government Fiscal Emergency/Fiscal Watch Law Fact Sheet
· Municipal Bankruptcy in Perspective, A Joint Publication of PAR and BGR
· Michigan Public Act 72 of 1990, Local Government Fiscal Responsibility Act, and the Appointment of Emergency Financial Managers
· all the Chapter 9, Title 11, United States Code on the Cornell University Law School
· Municipal Bankruptcy in Alabama - Kerem Deal
· AN EXAMINATION OF MUNICIPAL FINANCE REFORM REGARDING MUNICIPAL BANKRUPTCIES IN THE UNITED STATES - Kerem Deal
· Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Bankruptcy Basics -- Municipality Bankruptcy

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