Many business officers faced with a backlog of deferred maintenance projects and budget constraints evaluate financing as a strategic tool to complete critical projects that need to be done today. Bonds offer an attractive option for schools to finance large campus improvement projects at low, fixed rates over longer terms. While many schools utilize bond financing for long-term building projects, carving out separate financing for shorter useful life assets can provide the following benefits:
 

1) Reduce Overall Interest Expense

Separating shorter useful life assets from the longer-term bond issuance provides a great opportunity for schools to avoid added interest expense. Let's assume a school is going out for a $10MM bond issue for a building renovation project. The 20-year bond has a fixed interest rate of 4.0%. The $10MM renovation costs include $9MM of traditional renovation charges, and $1MM of various technology and furniture purchases. 
 
The illustration below summarizes the total interest expense of two approaches to financing this project:

2) Avoid Paying for Assets Beyond their Useful Life

Rolling shorter useful life assets into longer term bond issues results in schools paying interest on assets that are no longer in use. The classroom technology, computers, networking infrastructure, fitness equipment or new furniture will be replaced years before the 20-year term expires. Why incur interest expense on equipment or furniture beyond its useful life?
 
By matching funding with the asset life, schools can reduce maintenance costs and improve operational efficiency with the latest equipment. The diagram outlines the estimated useful life of assets commonly separated from longer-term bond issues:

3) Faster and Easier Processing than Bond Financing

It’s a common misperception that incorporating leases for shorter useful life assets adds complexity to your bond issue when it is actually very easy. The lease process has a lead time measured in days and can be completed much faster than bond financing. Equipment leases also lack the complex terms and conditions of a bond issuance:

• No additional collateral requirements (only secured by equipment financed)
• No covenants
• No additional fees or setup costs
• Customized repayment schedules to meet budgetary needs

Equipment leasing for short-term assets is an effective solution for schools to align funding with useful life and reduce interest costs – all through a simple financing process. Complementing long-term bond financing with short-term equipment leasing can be a helpful tool for schools to address key projects and provide faculty and students with the latest equipment needed for the 2018-2019 academic year.