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Upcoming 2013 Conferences
Here are some of the conferences Ehlers will be at in the first half of 2013. Say hello to us if you're attending!
Illinois Association of Park Districts and Illinois Parks and Recreation Association Joint Conference
January 24-26
Hyatt Regency, Chicago
Illinois City/County Management Association Winter Conference
February 20 - 22
Four Points by Sheraton, Peoria
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Community Economic Development Conference
March 6 -7
Four Points by Sheraton, Peoria
Illinois Tax Increment Association Spring Conference
April 17 - 19
Mark Twain Hotel, Peoria
Illinois Association of School Business Officials Conference
May 15 - 17
Renaissance, Schaumburg
Check our website for other 2013 conferences we'll be attending.
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Ehlers Market Commentary
Are you up to date with current market trends? If not, check out the Ehlers Market Commentary, which is released every other week.
Be sure to sign up to receive your email copy, or read past articles here.
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We encourage you to forward The Advisor and our Market Commentary to others who may be interested or ask them to sign up to receive their own copy.
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Ehlers
550 Warrenville Road
Suite 220
Lisle, IL 60532-4311
Phone: 630-271-3330
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Greetings!
As we begin 2013, we have a number of newsworthy articles in this issue of The Advisor.
Refundings were a popular theme in our bi-weekly market commentaries and with many of our clients. We'll outline a sample of some of the savings realized that may apply to your organization too.
With the April Consolidated Election happening soon, we'll review Referendum planning for 2013-2014.
Two tax-related articles will touch on the 2013 IRS Work Plan and how federal budget balancing could increase municipal borrowing interest rates. We'll also update you with recent Dodd-Frank events and how they will apply to you.
And be sure to check out some of the conferences Ehlers will be attending in the first half of 2013. We hope to see you at one of them!
 President and CEO |
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Federal Budget Balancing Could Increase Municipal Borrowing Interest Rates
(630) 271-3335
Currently governmental entities are able to issue debt with interest to investors being exempt from federal income taxes. This exemption results in debt interest rates that can be up to 2% lower than comparable taxable interest rates. Congress and the President continue the battle to find an approach to balance the federal budget.
Click here to read more.
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Looking Back at 2012: The Year of Refundings
by Maureen Barry, Financial Advisor
(630) 271-3341
 In 2012 we saw investors turn to municipal bonds as a safe and secure investment, driving down yields to historic lows. During November 2012, we had the lowest tax-exempt municipal bond yields in 47 years. The Ehlers' bi-weekly market commentaries over the past year regularly chronicled the decline in interest rates. The common refrain was "interest rates reach record lows."
Click here to continue reading.
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Referendum Planning for 2013 and 2014
 With the April 9, 2013 Consolidated Election around the corner, many local governments are looking to the next election cycle for bond referenda and other public questions. The April 9, 2013 election is the only election for calendar year 2013. The deadline to adopt a referendum question for the April 9th election was January 22nd. The next election is the March 18, 2014 General Primary. To initiate a public question, a governing board needs to take action 79 days before the election date. Click here to read more.
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 The Tax-Exempt Bond (TEB) office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced work plan priorities for 2013. The work plan identifies specific measures to be taken by IRS agents over the next year to determine whether issuers of tax-exempt bonds are complying with post-issuance responsibilities.
Click here to continue reading.
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Dodd-Frank Update
(651) 697-8510
July of 2010, the President signed the Dodd Frank Consumer Protection Act into law. Among the many changes, the Act regulated Financial Advisors, like Ehlers, as Municipal Advisors.
While Municipal Advisors are regulated under temporary rules by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), the final rules have not yet been established by the MSRB.The MSRB is still waiting for the SEC to finalize the definition of a Municipal Advisor.
Click here to read more.
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