FAQ

To purchase Oregon Bonds as part of an upcoming sale, you will need to have or open an account with a brokerage firm participating in the bond sale. Investors are encouraged to begin the new account process in advance of the sale. Each firm has its own requirements. The State of Oregon does not endorse brokerage firms. To research brokerage firms that may be able to assist you, start with our Oregon Bond Calendar.

"Tax-exempt" means the interest that an Oregon investor earns on a bond is exempt from both federal income taxes and state personal income taxes. Interest paid on all State of Oregon bonds is exempt from State of Oregon personal income tax, but not all State of Oregon bonds are exempt from federal income tax. Bonds that are taxable under the federal tax code are clearly identified as "Taxable" bonds in the official statement. See "What is a taxable bond," below. For additional information about the tax status of specific bonds, read the "Tax Matters" section of the official statement of a particular bond offering. State agency official statements may be obtained from your broker or by calling the Debt Management Division at (503) 378-4930. We also publish official statements on our Upcoming Bond Sales webpage.

Given the nature of some of the programs funded by State of Oregon bonds, the interest on certain bonds may not meet the Federal tax rules to qualify for exemption from federal income taxes. Please read the "Tax Matters" section of the official statement for the bond sale to learn about the bonds' tax status. State agency official statements may be obtained from your broker or by calling the Debt Management Division at (503) 378-4930.

Municipal bonds may be an important part of a diversified investment portfolio, as municipal bonds typically have a predictable stream of payments of principal and interest. Investors often purchase municipal bonds to preserve and increase capital, or to receive dependable interest income. Since the interest earned on municipal bonds is typically exempt from federal and state income taxes high tax bracket bond owners may receive higher after tax yields than on taxable bonds.

When an investor buys a GO bond issued by the State of Oregon, the investor is making a loan to the State. GO bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the State of Oregon. A GO bond is secured by the power to levy unlimited additional property taxes to pay off the bond. The State uses the money borrowed for a variety of purposes including building college and university classrooms and dorms, funding veteran's mortgages and financing small scale energy projects.

Revenue bonds are a form of long-term borrowing state agencies use to finance programs and projects that are self-supporting through various non-General Fund revenues. Examples include the revenue bonds issued for a first-time homebuyers' mortgage program, highway construction, and bridge projects. Most often, the income generated by the program or project goes toward meeting debt service on the bonds (i.e., paying principal and interest to bondholders). Unlike GO bonds, revenue bonds are not backed by the State's full faith and credit, but rather through the revenues pledged to bondholders.

The State of Oregon's General Obligation Bonds are rated AA+, Aa1, and AA+ by Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service, and Standard & Poor's respectively. Other State of Oregon bond types may have different credit ratings. Please see the Calendar of Oregon Bond Sales or the Official Statement for the current ratings for a particular State of Oregon bond offering.

Generally, the safety of a series of municipal bonds is measured by its credit ratings. For example, State of Oregon's General Obligation bonds have relatively high credit ratings, reflecting the state's strong financial management and the fact that these bonds are backed by the full faith and credit pledge of the State of Oregon. The State of Oregon has never defaulted on any bond that it has pledged to repay from state moneys.

Interest Rate – The interest rate determines the amount of interest paid to investors in exchange for the use of their loaned money. This rate is a percentage of the "principal" (amount borrowed) that accrues over a specified period of time. For fixed-rate bonds, interest is usually compounded and paid every six months.

Price – The interest rate determines the amount of interest paid to investors in exchange for the use of their loaned money. This rate is a percentage of the "principal" (amount borrowed) that accrues over a specified period of time. For fixed-rate bonds, interest is usually compounded and paid every six months.

Yield – The yield is the return an investor earns on the bond. The yield is based on the market price and coupon interest rate and can be based on a number of factors such as maturity date and the time between interest payments. Investors should consult their broker to learn more about yield.

Maturity – This is the date when the principal owed to the investor becomes due. The State of Oregon generally sells bonds with maturities between one and 30 years. Generally, the longer the maturity, the higher the yield.

Redemption Provisions – Some bonds may contain provisions that allow the State of Oregon to redeem, or "call," all or a portion of the bonds, at set prices, prior to their maturity dates. Bonds are frequently called when current market interest rates are substantially lower than when the originally sold. Bonds with redemption provisions usually have higher yields to compensate for the risk that the bonds might be called early. When a bond is called, the investor is paid the principal amount and any interest earned since the last interest payment. However, the investor does not receive the interest that would have been earned if the bond had been allowed to reach its maturity date. Investors are notified of impending calls.

Creditworthiness – Most municipal bonds are rated by one or more of the three major rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service, and Standard & Poor's. A credit rating is an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of the bonds by one of the aforementioned rating agencies. The creditworthiness of a bond is a measure of the probability of the timely repayment of principal and interest of a bond. A higher credit rating indicates the rating agency's view that there is a greater probability the investment will be repaid in full and on time.

The yields vary from bond sale to bond sale and depend on the maturity of the bond, the credit rating, and other factors described elsewhere. For specific information on yields, please contact your broker.

Most municipal securities may be sold prior to maturity through a brokerage firm. If an investor sells a municipal security prior to maturity, the price that investor will receive depends on current market interest rates, supply relative to demand, perceived credit quality of the securities, and other variables. Investors should also consult a tax advisor for any tax implications.

When the state sells a bond, it is referred to as a new issue primary market sale. In a new issue, all of the terms are set, including the price and interest rates, and the securities are sold to investors, with the issuer receiving the proceeds of the sale. The initial sales commission paid to broker-dealers is paid by the issuer, such as the State of Oregon, from the proceeds. A retail investor who would like to participate in a primary market transaction must have an account with a brokerage firm serving as a manager or selling group member for the sale. A secondary market transaction does not involve the State of Oregon, but is a transaction between two investors, both a buyer and a seller. These transactions involve a brokerage firm acting either as a liaison between the buyer and seller or as a buyer or seller itself. Buyers pay sales commissions to brokerage firms to compensate them for their services in facilitating the transaction. Current market interest rates, supply relative to demand, perceived credit quality of the securities, and other variables influence the price of the bonds.

No firm is guaranteed to have bonds available from a particular sale. If investor demand is high other bond purchasers may be "filled" (receive their bond orders) prior to your order. To improve your chances of being filled for a bond order let your broker know early of your interest and willingness to purchase a bond.

While the Oregon Treasury tracks most Oregon local government bond sales, specific information is best obtained through your broker or by directly contacting the municipality. The state does not manage local government bond sales.