FW: Veteran’s Day 2020 Holiday AP Schedule

Good Afternoon Everyone,
On Wednesday, November 11, our office will be closed in observance of the Veteran’s Day Holiday. In order to ensure that your payments are audited by SBAS and printed in time for your holiday scheduled trucking day, please submit your accounts payable backup according to the attached schedule.
Please let, Todd Humphreys at extension 5372 or email thumphreys@sbceo.org<mailto:thumphreys@sbceo.org>, know if you have any questions or concerns.
Regards,
School Business Advisory Services Team Santa Barbara County Education Office

ACTION REQUIRED: Annual Governing Board Organizational Meeting, Authorized Signatures, etc.- with fillable attachments

Dear Presidents/Superintendents and School Business Professionals,
Please see the communication below and attached for guidance regarding the upcoming Annual Governing Board Organizational Meeting and collecting Authorized Signatures for districts. For your planning purposes and coordination of dates, we have also noted the Ed Code outlining the requirement that districts shall adopt both the Budget Overview for Parents (this year only) and, as usual, the First Interim Budget Report which are due by December 15. Feel free to share this email communication with others as necessary (Executive Assistants/Secretaries, Administrative Assistants, etc.). If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us as we are here to help you with the process. Thank you very much.
Kind regards,
Denice
Denice Cora Administrator, School Business Advisory Services Santa Barbara County Education Office 4400 Cathedral Oaks Road Santa Barbara, CA 93160-6307 Office (805) 964-4710, ext. 5237

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DEADLINE EXTENDED: CSFA ASAP Program – Deadline Extension and Program FAQ’s

Dear School business Professionals,
Please see information below related to Charter School Advances that you may find useful.
Regards,
School Business Advisory Services Team Santa Barbara County Education Office
__________________________________________________________________________ Please do not reply to this email. This is an unattended mailbox.

From: ASAP <asap@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:asap@treasurer.ca.gov>> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 3:52 PM Cc: Johantgen, Katrina <Katrina.Johantgen@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:Katrina.Johantgen@treasurer.ca.gov>>; Dear, Thomas <Thomas.Dear@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:Thomas.Dear@treasurer.ca.gov>> Subject: CSFA ASAP Program – Deadline Extension and Program FAQ’s
Due to the overwhelming response to the Charter School Advances on State Aid Payments Program (“ASAP Program”), the California School Finance Authority (CSFA) is extending the ASAP Program application deadline for the March 2021 issuance from October 23, 2020 to October 30, 2020.
Please click on the following link for the ASAP Program website and to apply to participate: www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa/charter-trans/index.asp
There is no cost to apply nor any commitment to proceed with the TRAN.
We have added Frequently Asked Questions below for your consideration. Should you have additional questions regarding the ASAP Program, financing team contact information can be found on the program website.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Katrina M. Johantgen, Executive Director California School Finance Authority 300 South Spring Street, Suite 8500 Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-620-2305 Direct Line 213-620-6309 Fax kjohantgen@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:kjohantgen@treasurer.ca.gov> www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa<www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa>
Frequently Asked Questions
* Is it true that I can only borrow the lesser of my school’s deferral amount or its facility costs?
No; each charter school that qualifies can borrow 100% of its deferral amount, less fees and costs. Facility costs will be reviewed to help determine how much of each school’s need can be financed in the lowest cost pool, which will be credit enhanced.
* The State Intercept seems like a very important credit feature – can it be utilized with other short-term financing programs?
The use of the State Intercept for short-term borrowing is only available to participants that borrow through the ASAP Program. We expect that the presence of the State Intercept will be a critical factor in bringing down the interest rate for charter schools.
* We have multiple charter schools which need financing. If we participate with multiple schools, how closely will we need to track the spending of the funds received for each school?
Each charter school (by CDS code) is eligible to finance its deferral. The State Intercept will be utilized to repay the notes from the deferral payments to be made by the State from July 2021 through November 2021. Schools will NOT be required to track the spending of funds received under the ASAP Program; as such, those borrowers with multiple charter schools can spend the proceeds of the TRAN as they would their normal State Aid payments (i.e. they can spend the proceeds at the schools that need the funds).
* We’d like to borrow at the CMO or network level, but the application is done by school. Is this possible?
Yes; there will be some additional legal documentation, but the CMO can be the borrower under the Program. The Notes would still be payable from the State Intercept by CDE code.
* We already have a State Intercept in place. Can we still use the program?
Generally; yes. We will work with you to review your existing financing covenants to ensure that your participation in the ASAP Program is permitted.
* Is there any flexibility in the repayment schedule of the TRANs?
Each school will repay the Notes in the same manner; their deferred payments will be intercepted each month in the amount due (up to 100%). Those funds will be held in escrow by the Trustee until the maturity date of the Notes, which is expected to be in January 2022.
* How does the cost of this program compare with other short-term borrowing options?
The cost of the ASAP program is likely lower because of CSFA’s work to economize fees, bring together a large pool of borrowers, and apply credit enhancement to a significant part of the pool.
* Does my school need to meet the Credit Enhancement Grant Eligibility to apply?
Your school does not need to meet the credit enhancement grant eligibility to apply. If your school does, it may be able to access that enhanced portion of the financing which may result in lower borrowing costs.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: CSFA ASAP Program – Deadline Extension and Program FAQ’s

Dear School business Professionals,
Please see information below related to Charter School Advances that you may find useful.
Regards,
School Business Advisory Services Team Santa Barbara County Education Office
__________________________________________________________________________ Please do not reply to this email. This is an unattended mailbox.

From: ASAP <asap@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:asap@treasurer.ca.gov>> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 3:52 PM Cc: Johantgen, Katrina <Katrina.Johantgen@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:Katrina.Johantgen@treasurer.ca.gov>>; Dear, Thomas <Thomas.Dear@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:Thomas.Dear@treasurer.ca.gov>> Subject: CSFA ASAP Program – Deadline Extension and Program FAQ’s
Due to the overwhelming response to the Charter School Advances on State Aid Payments Program (“ASAP Program”), the California School Finance Authority (CSFA) is extending the ASAP Program application deadline for the March 2021 issuance from October 23, 2020 to October 30, 2020.
Please click on the following link for the ASAP Program website and to apply to participate: www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa/charter-trans/index.asp
There is no cost to apply nor any commitment to proceed with the TRAN.
We have added Frequently Asked Questions below for your consideration. Should you have additional questions regarding the ASAP Program, financing team contact information can be found on the program website.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Katrina M. Johantgen, Executive Director California School Finance Authority 300 South Spring Street, Suite 8500 Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-620-2305 Direct Line 213-620-6309 Fax kjohantgen@treasurer.ca.gov<mailto:kjohantgen@treasurer.ca.gov> www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa<www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa>
Frequently Asked Questions
* Is it true that I can only borrow the lesser of my school’s deferral amount or its facility costs?
No; each charter school that qualifies can borrow 100% of its deferral amount, less fees and costs. Facility costs will be reviewed to help determine how much of each school’s need can be financed in the lowest cost pool, which will be credit enhanced.
* The State Intercept seems like a very important credit feature – can it be utilized with other short-term financing programs?
The use of the State Intercept for short-term borrowing is only available to participants that borrow through the ASAP Program. We expect that the presence of the State Intercept will be a critical factor in bringing down the interest rate for charter schools.
* We have multiple charter schools which need financing. If we participate with multiple schools, how closely will we need to track the spending of the funds received for each school?
Each charter school (by CDS code) is eligible to finance its deferral. The State Intercept will be utilized to repay the notes from the deferral payments to be made by the State from July 2021 through November 2021. Schools will NOT be required to track the spending of funds received under the ASAP Program; as such, those borrowers with multiple charter schools can spend the proceeds of the TRAN as they would their normal State Aid payments (i.e. they can spend the proceeds at the schools that need the funds).
* We’d like to borrow at the CMO or network level, but the application is done by school. Is this possible?
Yes; there will be some additional legal documentation, but the CMO can be the borrower under the Program. The Notes would still be payable from the State Intercept by CDE code.
* We already have a State Intercept in place. Can we still use the program?
Generally; yes. We will work with you to review your existing financing covenants to ensure that your participation in the ASAP Program is permitted.
* Is there any flexibility in the repayment schedule of the TRANs?
Each school will repay the Notes in the same manner; their deferred payments will be intercepted each month in the amount due (up to 100%). Those funds will be held in escrow by the Trustee until the maturity date of the Notes, which is expected to be in January 2022.
* How does the cost of this program compare with other short-term borrowing options?
The cost of the ASAP program is likely lower because of CSFA’s work to economize fees, bring together a large pool of borrowers, and apply credit enhancement to a significant part of the pool.
* Does my school need to meet the Credit Enhancement Grant Eligibility to apply?
Your school does not need to meet the credit enhancement grant eligibility to apply. If your school does, it may be able to access that enhanced portion of the financing which may result in lower borrowing costs.

FW: INFO RE. RETIRED ANNUITANTS: PERS Circular – Social Security & Rehired Annuitants

Dear School Business Professionals, The attached CalPERS Circular Letter was issued to provide notice that SSA updated POMS and provided additional information with regards to rehired annuitants Social Security coverage. While CalPERS State Social Security Administrator (SSSA) cannot provide a blanket statement for all rehired annuitant coverage, SSSA can work with your school district to provide guidance for Social Security coverage on a case-by-case basis. SSSA can assist in determining Social Security coverage for all employees. The following is information SSSA requires for each retiree in order to assist with determining coverage:
* Employee name and PERS ID or STRS ID * Which school district will this rehired annuitant be working for? * What position is this rehired annuitant occupying? * Is this position a full-time position or a part-time position? * Is the position covered by a retirement system? * Is the rehired annuitant receiving a pension? * If yes, from which pension system? If you provide this information for each individual to SSSA office, they will be able to better determine whether social security withholding is applicable. Depending upon the facts of the review SSSA may request additional information. If you have a specific scenario that you would like to CalPERS to review regarding withholdings for rehired annuitants, contact the State Social Security Administrator (SSSA) Office via email at SSSA@calpers.ca.gov<mailto:SSSA@calpers.ca.gov> or call the SSSA Office directly at (916) 795-0810. Also attached are:
* Social Security and Medicare Tax Withholding Matrix * Membership and Post-Retirement Employment Determination Team (MAPD) * SSA Publication 05-10069 – How Work Affects Your Benefits * SSA Modification 315 to Section 218 Agreement – divided plans (STRS/PERS) For more information on Schools and Social Security: www.calpers.ca.gov/page/employers/benefit-programs/social-security-and-medicare Thank you, Regards,
School Business Advisory Services Team Santa Barbara County Education Office