April 2025 Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund Item 2

Report of the State Auditor’s Office Related to the Certification of the Bond Guarantee Program for Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2024

April 10, 2025

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL FINANCE/PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for representatives of the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) to make a presentation related to the certification of the Bond Guarantee Program for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Constitution, Article VII, §2 and §5; Texas Education Code (TEC), §45.053(b).

The Texas Constitution, Article VII, §§2 and 5 establish the permanent school fund, the assets that comprise the permanent school fund, the bond guarantee program, the available school fund, and authorize the State Board of Education (SBOE) to manage and invest the permanent school fund in accordance with the prudent person standard.

TEC, §45.053(b) requires the SAO to analyze the status of guaranteed bonds and certify that the amount of such bonds is within limits prescribed by law.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: Statute requires the state auditor to analyze annually, the status of guaranteed bonds under TEC, Chapter 45, Subchapter C as compared to the cost value of the permanent school fund. Based on that analysis, the state auditor shall certify whether the amount of bonds guaranteed under Subchapter C is within the limit prescribed by TEC, §45.053.

Staff Member Responsible:
John McGeady, Director of External Relations, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp.