Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
Investing for income exempt from federal and California state income taxes
PROSPECTUS October 1, 1999
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
Contents
THE FUND
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2 Goal/Approach
3 Main Risks
4 Past Performance
5 Expenses
6 Management
7 Financial Highlights
YOUR INVESTMENT
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8 Account Policies
11 Distributions and Taxes
12 Services for Fund Investors
14 Instructions for Regular Accounts
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Back Cover
What every investor should know about the fund
Information for managing your fund account
Where to learn more about this and other Dreyfus funds
<PAGE>
The Fund
Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
--------------------------------
Ticker Symbol: DRCAX
GOAL/APPROACH
The fund seeks as high a level of current income, exempt from federal and
California state income taxes, as is consistent with the preservation of
capital. To pursue this goal, the fund normally invests substantially all of its
assets in municipal bonds that provide income exempt from federal and California
income taxes.
The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in investment grade municipal
bonds or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus. The fund may invest up
to 20% of its assets in municipal bonds rated below investment grade ("high
yield" or "junk" bonds) or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus. The
dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund normally exceeds ten years, but the
fund is not subject to any maturity restrictions.
Municipal bonds are typically of two types:
(pound) GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, which are secured by the
full faith and credit of the issuer and its taxing power
(pound) REVENUE BONDS, which are payable from the revenues
derived from a specific revenue source, such as charges for water
and sewer service or highway tolls
The fund is non-diversified, which means that a relatively high percentage of
the fund's assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers. Therefore, its
performance may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single
issuer or a group of issuers.
INFORMATION ON THE FUND' S RECENT STRATEGIES AND HOLDINGS CAN BE FOUND IN THE
CURRENT ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORT (SEE BACK COVER).
Concepts to understand
AVERAGE MATURITY: an average of the stated maturities of the bonds held in the
fund, based on their dollar-weighted proportions in the fund.
INVESTMENT GRADE BONDS: independent rating organizations analyze and evaluate a
bond issuer's credit history and ability to repay debts. Based on their
assessment, they assign letter grades that reflect the issuer's
creditworthiness. AAA or Aaa represents the highest credit rating, AA/Aa the
second highest, and so on down to D, for defaulted debt. Bonds rated BBB or Baa
and above are considered investment grade.
<PAGE 2>
MAIN RISKS
Prices of bonds tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. While a
rise in rates may allow the fund to invest for higher yields, the most immediate
effect is usually a drop in bond prices and, therefore, in the fund's share
price as well. As a result, the value of your investment in the fund could go up
and down, which means that you could lose money.
Other risk factors could have an effect on the fund's performance:
(pound) if an issuer fails to make timely interest or
principal payments or there is a decline in the credit quality of
a bond or perception of a decline, the bond's value could fall,
potentially lowering the fund's share price
(pound) California' s economy and revenues underlying its
municipal bonds may decline
(pound) investing primarily in a single state may make the
fund's portfolio securities more sensitive to risks specific to the
state
(pound) lower-rated, higher-yielding municipal bonds are
subject to greater credit risk, including the risk of
default, than investment grade obligations; lower-rated bonds
tend to be more volatile and less liquid
Although the fund' s objective is to generate income exempt from federal and
California state income taxes, interest from some of its holdings may be subject
to the federal alternative minimum tax. In addition, the fund temporarily may
invest in taxable bonds and/or municipal bonds that pay income exempt only from
federal income tax.
Other potential risks
The fund, at times, may invest in certain derivatives, such as futures and
options, that may cause taxable income, and in inverse floaters. Derivatives are
used primarily to hedge the fund's portfolio or for daily liquidity. They also
may be used to increase returns. However, these practices may lower returns or
increase volatility. Derivatives can be illiquid and highly sensitive to changes
in their underlying security, interest rate or index. A small investment in
certain derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the fund's
performance.
The Fund
<PAGE 3>
PAST PERFORMANCE
The tables below show some of the risks of investing in the fund. The first
table shows the changes in the fund's performance from year to year. The second
table compares the fund's performance over time to that of the Lehman Brothers
Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged total return municipal bond performance
benchmark. Both tables assume reinvestment of dividends. Of course, past
performance is no guarantee of future results.
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Year-by-year total return AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR (%)
[Exhibit A]
BEST QUARTER: Q1 '95 +6.12%
WORST QUARTER: Q1 '94 -4.96%
THE FUND'S YEAR-TO-DATE TOTAL RETURN AS OF 6/30/99 WAS -1.64%.
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<TABLE>
Average annual total return AS OF 12/31/98
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
FUND 5.84% 4.66% 6.72%
</TABLE>
LEHMAN BROTHERS
MUNICIPAL
BOND INDEX 6.48% 6.22% 8.22%
UNLIKE THE FUND, THE LEHMAN INDEX IS NOT COMPOSED OF BONDS OF A SINGLE STATE.
What this fund is -- and isn't
This fund is a mutual fund: a pooled investment that is professionally managed
and gives you the opportunity to participate in financial markets. It strives to
reach its stated goal, although as with all mutual funds, it cannot offer
guaranteed results.
An investment in this fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete
investment program. You could lose money in this fund, but you also have the
potential to make money.
<PAGE 4>
EXPENSES
As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the fund,
which are described in the table below. Shareholder transaction fees are paid
from your account. Annual fund operating expenses are paid out of fund assets,
so their effect is included in the share price. The fund has no sales charge
(load) or Rule 12b-1 distribution fees.
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Fee table
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION FEES
% OF TRANSACTION AMOUNT
Maximum redemption fee 0.10%
CHARGED ONLY WHEN SELLING SHARES YOU
HAVE OWNED FOR LESS THAN 15 DAYS
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
% OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS
Management fees 0.60%
Shareholder services fee 0.05%
Other expenses 0.07%
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TOTAL 0.72%
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Expense example
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
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$73 $230 $400 $894
</TABLE>
This example shows what you could pay in expenses over
time. It uses the same hypothetical conditions other
funds use in their prospectuses: $10,000 initial
investment, 5% total return each year and no changes in
expenses. The figures shown would be the same whether
you sold your shares at the end of a period or kept
them. Because actual return and expenses will be
different, the example is for comparison only.
Concepts to understand
MANAGEMENT FEE: the fee paid to Dreyfus for managing the fund's portfolio and
assisting in all aspects of the fund's operations.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE: a fee of up to 0.25% used to reimburse Dreyfus Service
Corporation for shareholder account service and maintenance.
OTHER EXPENSES: fees paid by the fund for miscellaneous items such as transfer
agency, custody, professional and registration fees.
The Fund
<PAGE 5>
MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the fund is The Dreyfus Corporation, 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166. Founded in 1947, Dreyfus manages more than $120
billion in over 160 mutual fund portfolios. For the past fiscal year, the fund
paid Dreyfus a management fee at the annual rate of 0.60% of the fund's average
daily net assets. Dreyfus is the primary mutual fund business of Mellon Bank
Corporation, a broad-based financial services company with a bank at its core.
With more than $425 billion of assets under management, and $2.0 trillion of
assets under administration and custody, Mellon provides a full range of
banking, investment and trust products and services to individuals, businesses
and institutions. Mellon is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Joseph P. Darcy has managed the fund since January 1996 and has been a portfolio
manager at Dreyfus since May 1994.
Dreyfus has a personal securities trading policy (the "Policy") which restricts
the personal securities transactions of its employees. Its primary purpose is to
ensure that personal trading by Dreyfus employees does not disadvantage any
Dreyfus-managed fund. Dreyfus portfolio managers and other investment personnel
who comply with the Policy' s preclearance and disclosure procedures may be
permitted to purchase, sell or hold certain types of securities which also may
be or are held in the fund(s) they advise.
Concepts to understand
YEAR 2000 ISSUES: the fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems
used by Dreyfus and the fund's other service providers do not properly process
and calculate date-related information from and after January 1, 2000.
Dreyfus is working to avoid year 2000-related problems in its systems and to
obtain assurances from other service providers that they are taking similar
steps. In addition, issuers of securities in which the fund invests may be
adversely affected by year 2000-related problems. This could have an impact on
the value of the fund's investments and its share price.
<PAGE 6>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
This table describes the fund's performance for the fiscal periods indicated.
" Total return" shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased
(or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and
distributions. These figures have been independently audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, whose report, along with the fund's financial statements, is included in
the annual report.
YEAR ENDED MAY 31,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SHARE DATA ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period 14.88 14.32 14.00 14.54 14.59
Investment operations:
Investment income -- net .68 .70 .73 .77 .82
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments (.12) .56 .32 (.54) --
Total from investment operations .56 1.26 1.05 .23 .82
Distributions:
Dividends from investment
income -- net (.68) (.70) (.73) (.77) (.82)
Dividends from net realized gain
on investments (.04) -- -- -- (.05)
Total distributions (.72) (.70) (.73) (.77) (.87)
Net asset value, end of period 14.72 14.88 14.32 14.00 14.54
Total return (%) 3.81 8.89 7.61 1.58 5.93
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RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Ratio of expenses
to average net assets (%) .72 .71 .73 .69 .71
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%) 4.56 4.77 5.11 5.37 5.77
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 58.49 64.67 60.56 56.12 39.85
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000) 1,234,856 1,310,139 1,369,058 1,371,274 1,557,754
The Fund
</TABLE>
<PAGE 7>
Your Investment
ACCOUNT POLICIES
Buying shares
YOU PAY NO SALES CHARGES to invest in this fund. Your price for fund shares is
the fund's net asset value per share (NAV), which is generally calculated as of
the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time) every day the exchange is open.
YOUR ORDER WILL BE PRICED at the next NAV calculated after your order is
accepted by the fund's transfer agent or other authorized entity. Because the
fund seeks tax-exempt income, it is not recommended for purchase in IRAs or
other qualified retirement plans.
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Minimum investments
Initial Additional
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REGULAR ACCOUNTS $2,500 $100
$500 FOR
TELETRANSFER
INVESTMENTS
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC $100 $100
INVESTMENT PLANS
All investments must be in U.S. dollars. Third-party
checks cannot be accepted. You may be charged a fee for
any check that does not clear. Maximum TeleTransfer
purchase is $150,000 per day.
Concepts to understand
NET ASSET VALUE (NAV): a mutual fund's share price on a given day. A fund's NAV
is calculated by dividing the value of its net assets by the number of existing
shares.
When calculating its NAV, the fund's investments are priced at fair value by an
independent pricing service approved by the fund's board. The pricing service's
procedures are reviewed under the general supervision of the board.
<PAGE 8>
Selling shares
YOU MAY SELL (REDEEM) SHARES AT ANY TIME. Your shares will be sold at the next
NAV calculated after your order is accepted by the fund's transfer agent or
other authorized entity. Any certificates representing fund shares being sold
must be returned with your redemption request. Your order will be processed
promptly and you will generally receive the proceeds within a week.
BEFORE SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES, please note that:
(pound) if the fund has not yet collected payment for the
shares you are selling, it may delay sending the proceeds
for up to eight business days or until it has collected payment
(pound) if you are selling or exchanging shares
you have owned for less than 15 days, the fund may deduct a 1%
redemption fee (not charged on shares sold through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan or Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege, or on shares
acquired through dividend reinvestment
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Limitations on selling shares by phone
Proceeds
sent by Minimum Maximum
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CHECK NO MINIMUM $150,000 PER DAY
WIRE $1,000 $250,000 FOR JOINT
ACCOUNTS
EVERY 30 DAYS
TELETRANSFER $500 $250,000 FOR JOINT
ACCOUNTS
EVERY 30 DAYS
Written sell orders
Some circumstances require written sell orders along with signature guarantees.
These include:
(pound) amounts of $1,000 or more on accounts whose address has been changed
within the last 30 days
(pound) requests to send the proceeds to a different payee or address
Written sell orders of $100,000 or more must also be signature guaranteed.
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE helps protect against fraud. You can obtain one from most
banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts,
each signature must be guaranteed. Please call us to ensure that your signature
guarantee will be processed correctly.
Your Investment
<PAGE 9>
ACCOUNT POLICIES (CONTINUED)
General policies
UNLESS YOU DECLINE TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES on your application, you may be
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order as long as Dreyfus takes
reasonable measures to verify the order.
THE FUND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:
(pound) refuse any purchase or exchange request that
could adversely affect the fund or its operations,
including those from any individual or group who, in the
fund' s view, is likely to engage in excessive trading
(usually defined as more than four exchanges out of the
fund within a calendar year)
(pound) refuse any purchase or exchange request in excess of
1% of the fund's total assets
(pound) change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or
temporarily suspend this privilege during unusual market conditions
(pound) change its minimum investment amounts
(pound) delay sending out redemption proceeds for up to
seven days (generally applies only in cases of very large redemptions,
excessive trading or during unusual market conditions)
The fund also reserves the right to make a "redemption in kind" -- payment in
portfolio securities rather than cash -- if the amount you are redeeming is
large enough to affect fund operations (for example, if it represents more than
1% of the fund's assets).
Small account policies
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the fund
charges regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12. The
fee will be imposed during the fourth quarter of each calendar year.
The fee will be waived for: any investor whose aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund
investments total at least $25,000; IRA accounts; accounts participating in
automatic investment programs; and accounts opened through a financial
institution.
If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance
If it is still below $500 after 45 days, the fund may close your account and
send you the proceeds.
<PAGE 10>
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
THE FUND USUALLY PAYS ITS SHAREHOLDERS dividends from its net investment income
once a month, and distributes any net capital gains it has realized once a year.
Your distributions will be reinvested in the fund unless you instruct the fund
otherwise. There are no fees or sales charges on reinvestments.
THE FUND ANTICIPATES THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF ITS INCOME DIVIDENDS will be exempt
from federal and California state income taxes. However, any dividends paid from
interest on taxable investments or short-term capital gains will be taxable as
ordinary income. Any distributions of long-term capital gains will be taxable as
such. The tax status of any distribution is the same regardless of how long you
have been in the fund and whether you reinvest your distributions or take them
in cash. In general, distributions are federally taxable as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------
Taxability of distributions
Type of Tax rate for Tax rate for
distribution 15% bracket 28% bracket or above
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INCOME GENERALLY GENERALLY
DIVIDENDS TAX EXEMPT TAX EXEMPT
SHORT-TERM ORDINARY ORDINARY
CAPITAL GAINS INCOME RATE INCOME RATE
LONG-TERM
CAPITAL GAINS 10% 20%
The tax status of your dividends and distributions will be detailed in
your annual tax statement from the fund.
Because everyone's tax situation is unique, always consult your tax professional
about federal, state and local tax consequences.
Taxes on transactions
Any sale or exchange of fund shares, including through the checkwriting
privilege, may generate a tax liability.
The table at right also can provide a guide for your potential tax liability
when selling or exchanging fund shares. "Short-term capital gains" applies to
fund shares sold or exchanged up to 12 months after buying them. "Long-term
capital gains" applies to shares sold or exchanged after 12 months.
Your Investment
<PAGE 11>
SERVICES FOR FUND INVESTORS
Automatic services
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES AUTOMATICALLY is easy with the services described
below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain
restrictions. You can set up most of these services with your application or by
calling 1-800-645-6561.
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For investing
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making automatic investments
ASSET BUILDER((reg.tm)) from a designated bank account.
DREYFUS PAYROLL For making automatic investments
SAVINGS PLAN through a payroll deduction.
DREYFUS GOVERNMENT For making automatic investments
DIRECT DEPOSIT from your federal employment,
PRIVILEGE Social Security or other regular
federal government check.
DREYFUS DIVIDEND For automatically reinvesting the
SWEEP dividends and distributions from
one Dreyfus fund into another
(not available for IRAs).
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For exchanging shares
DREYFUS AUTO- For making regular exchanges
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE from one Dreyfus fund into
another.
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For selling shares
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC For making regular withdrawals
WITHDRAWAL PLAN from most Dreyfus funds.
Dreyfus Financial Centers
Through a nationwide network of Dreyfus Financial Centers, Dreyfus offers a full
array of investment services and products. This includes information on mutual
funds, brokerage services, tax-advantaged products and retirement planning.
Experienced financial consultants can help you make informed choices and provide
you with personalized attention in handling account transactions. The Financial
Centers also offer informative seminars and events. To find the Financial Center
nearest you, call 1-800-499-3327.
<PAGE 12>
Checkwriting privilege
YOU MAY WRITE REDEMPTION CHECKS against your account in amounts of $500 or more.
These checks are free; however, a fee will be charged if you request a stop
payment or if the transfer agent cannot honor a redemption check due to
insufficient funds or another valid reason. Please do not postdate your checks
or use them to close your account.
Exchange privilege
YOU CAN EXCHANGE SHARES worth $500 or more from one Dreyfus fund into another.
You can request your exchange in writing or by phone. Be sure to read the
current prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging. Any new account
established through an exchange will have the same privileges as your original
account (as long as they are available) . There is currently no fee for
exchanges, although you may be charged a sales load when exchanging into any
fund that has one.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege
TO MOVE MONEY BETWEEN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT and your Dreyfus fund account with a
phone call, use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer privilege. You can set up TeleTransfer
on your account by providing bank account information and following the
instructions on your application.
24-hour automated account access
YOU CAN EASILY MANAGE YOUR DREYFUS ACCOUNTS, check your account balances,
transfer money between your Dreyfus funds, get price and yield information and
much more -- when it's convenient for you.
Third-party investments
If you invest through a third party (rather than directly with Dreyfus), the
policies and fees may be different than those described here. Banks, brokers,
financial advisers and financial supermarkets may charge transaction fees and
may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying or selling
shares. Consult a representative of your financial institution if in doubt.
Your Investment
<PAGE 13>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGULAR ACCOUNTS
TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In Writing
Complete the application.
Mail your application and a check to:
The Dreyfus Family of Funds
P.O. Box 9387, Providence, RI 02940-9387
TO ADD TO AN ACCOUNT
Fill out an investment slip, and write your account number on your check.
Mail the slip and the check to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 105,
Newark, NJ 07101-0105
By Telephone
WIRE Have your bank send your
investment to The Bank of New York, with these instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900052384
* the fund name
* your Social Security or tax ID number
* name(s) of investor(s)
Call us to obtain an account number. Return your application.
WIRE Have your bank send your investment to The Bank of New York, with these
instructions:
* ABA# 021000018
* DDA# 8900052384
* the fund name
* your account number
* name(s) of investor(s)
ELECTRONIC CHECK Same as wire, but insert "1111" before your account number.
TELETRANSFER Request TeleTransfer on your application. Call us to request your
transaction.
Automatically
WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT Indicate
on your application which automatic service(s) you want. Return your application
with your investment.
WITHOUT ANY INITIAL INVESTMENT Check the Dreyfus Step Program option on your
application. Return your application, then complete the additional materials
when they are sent to you.
ALL SERVICES Call us to request a form to add any automatic investing service
(see "Services for Fund Investors"). Complete and return the forms along with
any other required materials.
Via the Internet
COMPUTER Visit the Dreyfus Web site http://www.dreyfus.com and follow the
instructions to download an account application.
<PAGE 14>
TO SELL SHARES
Write a redemption check OR write a letter of instruction that includes:
* your name(s) and signature(s)
* your account number
* the fund name
* the dollar amount you want to sell
* how and where to send the proceeds
Obtain a signature guarantee or other documentation, if required (see "Account
Policies -- Selling Shares").
Mail your request to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds P.O. Box 9671, Providence, RI
02940-9671
WIRE Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Call us to
request your transaction. Proceeds will be wired to your bank.
TELETRANSFER Be sure the fund has your bank account information on file. Call
us to request your transaction. Proceeds will be sent to your bank by electronic
check.
CHECK Call us to request your transaction. A check will be sent to the address
of record.
DREYFUS AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Call us to request a form to add the plan.
Complete the form, specifying the amount and frequency of withdrawals you would
like.
Be sure to maintain an account balance of $5,000 or more.
To reach Dreyfus, call toll free in the U.S.
1-800-645-6561
Outside the U.S. 516-794-5452
Make checks payable to:
THE DREYFUS FAMILY OF FUNDS
You also can deliver requests to any Dreyfus Financial Center. Because
processing time may vary, please ask the representative when your account will
be credited or debited.
Concepts to understand
WIRE TRANSFER: for transferring money from one financial institution to another.
Wiring is the fastest way to move money, although your bank may charge a fee to
send or receive wire transfers. Wire redemptions from the fund are subject to a
$1,000 minimum.
ELECTRONIC CHECK: for transferring money out of a bank account. Your transaction
is entered electronically, but may take up to eight business days to clear.
Electronic checks usually are available without a fee at all Automated Clearing
House (ACH) banks.
Your Investment
<PAGE 15>
NOTES
<PAGE 16>
<PAGE 17>
For More Information
Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc.
-----------------------------
SEC file number: 811-3757
More information on this fund is available free upon
request, including the following:
Annual/Semiannual Report
Describes the fund' s performance, lists portfolio
holdings and contains a letter from the fund's manager
discussing recent market conditions, economic trends and
fund strategies that significantly affected the fund's
performance during the last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
Provides more details about the fund and its policies. A
current SAI is on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) and is incorporated by reference (is
legally considered part of this prospectus).
To obtain information:
BY TELEPHONE Call 1-800-645-6561
BY MAIL Write to: The Dreyfus Family of Funds 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard
Uniondale, NY 11556-0144
BY E-MAIL Send your request to [email protected]
ON THE INTERNET Text-only versions of fund documents can be viewed online or
downloaded from:
SEC
http://www.sec.gov
DREYFUS
http://www.dreyfus.com
You can also obtain copies by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC (phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or by sending your request and a
duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC
20549-6009.
(c) 1999 Dreyfus Service Corporation 928P1099
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREYFUS CALIFORNIA TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OCTOBER 1, 1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus,
supplements and should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus of
Dreyfus California Tax Exempt Bond Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), dated October 1,
1999, as it may be revised from time to time. To obtain a copy of the Fund's
Prospectus, please write to the Fund at 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale,
New York 11556-0144, or call one of the following numbers:
Call Toll Free 1-800-645-6561
In New York City -- Call 1-718-895-1206
Outside the U.S -- Call 516-794-5452
The Fund's most recent Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to
Shareholders are separate documents supplied with this Statement of Additional
Information, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and report of
independent auditors appearing in the Annual Report are incorporated by
reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Description of the
Fund.......................................................................B-2
Management of the
Fund......................................................................B-15
Management
Arrangements..............................................................B-20
How to Buy
Shares....................................................................B-23
Shareholder Services
Plan......................................................................B-24
How To Redeem
Shares....................................................................B-25
Shareholder
Services..................................................................B-27
Determination of Net Asset
Value.....................................................................B-30
Dividends, Distributions and
Taxes.....................................................................B-31
Portfolio
Transactions..............................................................B-34
Performance
Information...............................................................B-35
Information About the
Fund......................................................................B-36
Counsel and Independent
Auditors..................................................................B-37
Appendix
A.........................................................................B-38
Appendix
B.........................................................................B-60
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND
The Fund is a Maryland corporation incorporated on May 3, 1983. The Fund
is an open-end management investment company, known as a municipal bond fund.
The Dreyfus Corporation (the "Manager") serves as the Fund's investment
adviser.
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc. (the "Distributor") is the
distributor of the Fund's shares.
Certain Portfolio Securities
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the Fund's Prospectus.
Municipal Obligations. The Fund invests primarily in the debt securities
of the State of California, its political subdivisions, authorities and
corporations, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel to the
issuer, is exempt from Federal and State of California personal income taxes
(collectively, "California Municipal Obligations"). To the extent acceptable
California Municipal Obligations are at any time unavailable for investment by
the Fund, the Fund will invest temporarily in other debt securities the interest
from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, exempt from
Federal, but not State of California, income tax. The Fund will invest at least
80% of the value of its net assets (except when maintaining a temporary
defensive position) in Municipal Obligations. Municipal Obligations are debt
obligations issued by states, territories and possessions of the United States
and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and
instrumentalities, or multistate agencies or authorities, the interest from
which, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, is exempt from Federal
income tax. Municipal Obligations generally include debt obligations issued to
obtain funds for various public purposes as well as certain industrial
development bonds issued by or on behalf of public authorities. Municipal
Obligations are classified as general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and notes.
General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit
and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are
payable from the revenue derived from a particular facility or class of
facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other
specific revenue source, but not from the general taxing power. Tax exempt
industrial development bonds, in most cases, are revenue bonds that do not carry
the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality, but generally are
guaranteed by the corporate entity on whose behalf they are issued. Notes are
short-term instruments which are obligations of the issuing municipalities or
agencies and are sold in anticipation of a bond sale, collection of taxes or
receipt of other revenues. Municipal Obligations include municipal
lease/purchase agreements which are similar to installment purchase contracts
for property or equipment issued by municipalities. Municipal Obligations bear
fixed, floating or variable rates of interest, which are determined in some
instances by formulas under which the Municipal Obligation's interest rate will
change directly or inversely to changes in interest rates or an index, or
multiples thereof, in many cases subject to a maximum and minimum. Certain
Municipal Obligations are subject to redemption at a date earlier than their
stated maturity pursuant to call options, which may be separated from the
related Municipal Obligation and purchased and sold separately.
The yields on Municipal Obligations are dependent on a variety of factors,
including general economic and monetary conditions, money market factors,
conditions in the Municipal Obligations market, size of a particular offering,
maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue.
......Certain Tax Exempt Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating and
variable rate demand notes and bonds, which are tax exempt obligations
ordinarily having stated maturities in excess of one year, but which permit the
holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals.
Variable rate demand notes include master demand notes which are obligations
that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, at varying rates of
interest, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and the
borrower. These obligations permit daily changes in the amount borrowed. Because
these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender and
borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments generally will be traded,
and there generally is no established secondary market for these obligations,
although they are redeemable at face value, plus accrued interest. Accordingly,
where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit
support arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of
the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. Each obligation purchased
by the Fund will meet the quality criteria established for the purchase of
Municipal Obligations.
......Tax Exempt Participation Interests. The Fund may purchase from financial
institutions participation interests in Municipal Obligations (such as
industrial development bonds and municipal lease/purchase agreements). A
participation interest gives the Fund an undivided interest in the Municipal
Obligation in the proportion that the Fund's participation interest bears to the
total principal amount of the Municipal Obligation. These instruments may have
fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. If the participation interest is
unrated, it will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a
bank that the Fund's Board has determined meets prescribed quality standards for
banks, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by U.S.
Government securities. For certain participation interests, the Fund will have
the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days' notice, for all or any
part of the Fund's participation interest in the Municipal Obligation, plus
accrued interest. As to these instruments, the Fund intends to exercise its
right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the Municipal
Obligation, as needed to provide liquidity to meet redemptions, or to maintain
or improve the quality of its investment portfolio.
Municipal lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations
(collectively, "lease obligations") have special risks not ordinarily associated
with Municipal Obligations. Although lease obligations do not constitute general
obligations of the municipality for which the municipality's taxing power is
pledged, a lease obligation ordinarily is backed by the municipality's covenant
to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the lease obligation.
However, certain lease obligations contain "non-appropriation" clauses which
provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment
purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose
on a yearly basis. Although "non-appropriation" lease obligations are secured by
the leased property, disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure
might prove difficult. The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
currently considers certain lease obligations to be illiquid. Determination as
to the liquidity of such securities is made in accordance with guidelines
established by the Fund's Board. Pursuant to such guidelines, the Board has
directed the Manager to monitor carefully the Fund's investment in such
securities with particular regard to: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for
the lease obligation; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the
lease obligation and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the willingness
of dealers to undertake to make a market in the lease obligation; (4) the nature
of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the lease
obligation, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer; and
(5) such other factors concerning the trading market for the lease obligation as
the Manager may deem relevant. In addition, in evaluating the liquidity and
credit quality of a lease obligation that is unrated, the Fund's Board has
directed the Manager to consider: (a) whether the lease can be canceled; (b)
what assurance there is that the assets represented by the lease can be sold;
(c) the strength of the lessee's general credit (e.g., its debt, administrative,
economic, and financial characteristics); (d) the likelihood that the
municipality will discontinue appropriating funding for the leased property
because the property is no longer deemed essential to the operations of the
municipality (e.g., the potential for an "event of nonappropriation"); (e) the
legal recourse in the event of failure to appropriate; and (f) such other
factors concerning credit quality as the Manager may deem relevant. The Fund
will not invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets in lease
obligations that are illiquid and in other illiquid securities. See "Investment
Restriction No. 13" below.
......Tender Option Bonds. The Fund may purchase tender option bonds. A tender
option bond is a Municipal Obligation (generally held pursuant to a custodial
arrangement) having a relatively long maturity and bearing interest at a fixed
rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax exempt rates, that has
been coupled with the agreement of a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer
or other financial institution, pursuant to which such institution grants the
security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities
to the institution and receive the face value thereof. As consideration for
providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees equal to
the difference between the Municipal Obligation's fixed coupon rate and the
rate, as determined by a remarketing or similar agent at or near the
commencement of such period, that would cause the securities, coupled with the
tender option, to trade at par on the date of such determination. Thus, after
payment of this fee, the security holder effectively holds a demand obligation
that bears interest at the prevailing short-term tax exempt rate. The Manager,
on behalf of the Fund, will consider on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness of
the issuer of the underlying Municipal Obligation, of any custodian and of the
third party provider of the tender option. In certain instances and for certain
tender option bonds, the option may be terminable in the event of a default in
payment of principal or interest on the underlying Municipal Obligation and for
other reasons.
The Fund will purchase tender option bonds only when it is satisfied that
the custodial and tender option arrangements, including the fee payment
arrangements, will not adversely affect the tax exempt status of the underlying
Municipal Obligations and that payment of any tender fees will not have the
effect of creating taxable income for the Fund. Based on the tender option bond
agreement, the Fund expects to be able to value the tender option bond at par;
however, the value of the instrument will be monitored to assure that it is
valued at fair value.
......Custodial Receipts. The Fund may purchase custodial receipts representing
the right to receive certain future principal and interest payments on Municipal
Obligations which underlie the custodial receipts. A number of different
arrangements are possible. In a typical custodial receipt arrangement, an issuer
or a third party owner of Municipal Obligations deposits such obligations with a
custodian in exchange for two classes of custodial receipts. The two classes
have different characteristics, but, in each case, payments on the two classes
are based on payments received on the underlying Municipal Obligations. One
class has the characteristics of a typical auction rate security, where at
specified intervals its interest rate is adjusted, and ownership changes, based
on an auction mechanism. This class's interest rate generally is expected to be
below the coupon rate of the underlying Municipal Obligations and generally is
at a level comparable to that of a Municipal Obligation of similar quality and
having a maturity equal to the period between interest rate adjustments. The
second class bears interest at a rate that exceeds the interest rate typically
borne by a security of comparable quality and maturity; this rate also is
adjusted, but in this case inversely to changes in the rate of interest of the
first class. In no event will the aggregate interest paid with respect to the
two classes exceed the interest paid by the underlying Municipal Obligations.
The value of the second class and similar securities should be expected to
fluctuate more than the value of a Municipal Obligation of comparable quality
and maturity and their purchase by the Fund should increase the volatility of
its net asset value and, thus, its price per share. These custodial receipts are
sold in private placements. The Fund also may purchase directly from issuers,
and not in a private placement, Municipal Obligations having characteristics
similar to custodial receipts. These securities may be issued as part of a
multi-class offering and the interest rate on certain classes may be subject to
a cap or floor.
......Stand-By Commitments. The Fund may acquire "stand-by commitments" with
respect to Municipal Obligations held in its portfolio. Under a stand-by
commitment, the Fund obligates a broker, dealer or bank to repurchase, at the
Fund's option, specified securities at a specified price and, in this respect,
stand-by commitments are comparable to put options. The exercise of a stand-by
commitment, therefore, is subject to the ability of the seller to make payment
on demand. The Fund will acquire stand-by commitments solely to facilitate its
portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its rights thereunder for
trading purposes. The Fund may pay for stand-by commitments if such action is
deemed necessary, thus increasing to a degree the cost of the underlying
Municipal Obligation and similarly decreasing such security's yield to
investors. Gains realized in connection with stand-by commitments will be
taxable. The Fund also may acquire call options on specific Municipal
Obligations. The Fund generally would purchase these call options to protect the
Fund from the issuer of the related Municipal Obligation redeeming, or other
holder of the call option from calling away, the Municipal Obligation before
maturity. The sale by the Fund of a call option that it owns on a specific
Municipal Obligation could result in the receipt of taxable income by the Fund.
Ratings of Municipal Obligations. The Fund will invest at least 80% of the
value of its net assets in Municipal Obligations which, in the case of bonds,
are rated no lower than Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or
BBB by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") or Fitch IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch" and,
together with Moody's and S&P, the "Rating Agencies"). The Fund may invest up to
20% of the value of its net assets in Municipal Obligations which, in the case
of bonds, are rated lower than Baa by Moody's and BBB by S&P and Fitch and as
low as the lowest rating assigned by the Rating Agencies, but it currently is
the intention of the Fund that this portion of the Fund's portfolio be invested
primarily in Municipal Obligations rated no lower than Baa by Moody's or BBB by
S&P or Fitch. The Fund may invest in short-term Municipal Obligations which are
rated in the two highest rating categories by a Rating Agency. The Fund also may
invest in securities which, while not rated, are determined by the Manager to be
of comparable quality to the rated securities in which the Fund may invest; for
purposes of the 80% requirement described in this paragraph, such unrated
securities will be considered to have the rating so determined.
Percentage of
Fitch or Moody's or S&P Value
AAA Aaa AAA 65.9%
AA Aa AA 15.4%
A A A 10.2%
BBB Baa BBB 2.6%
F-1 VMIG 1/MIG 1/P-1 SP-1/A-1 4.6%(1)
Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated 1.3%(2)
-------
100.0%
Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of rated Municipal
Obligations may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum
required for purchase by the Fund. Neither event will require the sale of such
Municipal Obligations by the Fund, but the Manager will consider such event in
determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the Municipal Obligations.
To the extent that the ratings given by the Rating Agencies for Municipal
Obligations may change as a result of changes in such organizations or their
rating systems, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as standards for
its investments in accordance with the investment policies contained in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. The ratings of the
Rating Agencies represent their opinions as to the quality of the Municipal
Obligations which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that
ratings are relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality.
Although these ratings may be an initial criterion for selection of portfolio
investments, the Manager also will evaluate these securities and the
creditworthiness of the issuers of such securities.
Zero Coupon Securities. The Fund may invest in zero coupon securities
which are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value
which do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to
maturity or a specified redemption date (or cash payment date). The amount of
the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash
payment date, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security and perceived
credit quality of the issuer. Zero coupon securities also may take the form of
debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the
coupons themselves and receipts or certificates representing interests in such
stripped debt obligations and coupons. The market prices of zero coupon
securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that
pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to a greater degree to
changes in interest rates than non-zero coupon securities having similar
maturities and credit qualities.
Illiquid Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net
assets in securities as to which a liquid trading market does not exist,
provided such investments are consistent with the Fund's investment objective.
These securities may include securities that are not readily marketable, such as
securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, and
repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after
notice. As to these securities, the Fund is subject to a risk that should the
Fund desire to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund
deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund's net assets could be
adversely affected.
Taxable Investments. From time to time, on a temporary basis other than
for temporary defensive purposes (but not to exceed 20% of the value of the
Fund's net assets) or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest in
taxable short-term investments ("Taxable Investments") consisting of: notes of
issuers having, at the time of purchase, a quality rating within the two highest
grades of a Rating Agency; obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities; commercial paper rated not lower than P-1 by Moody's, A-1 by
S&P or F-1 by Fitch; certificates of deposit of U.S. domestic banks, including
foreign branches of domestic banks, with assets of $1 billion or more; time
deposits; bankers' acceptances and other short-term bank obligations; and
repurchase agreements in respect of any of the foregoing. Dividends paid by the
Fund that are attributable to income earned by the Fund from Taxable Investments
will be taxable to investors. Except for temporary defensive purposes, at no
time will more than 20% of the value of the Fund's net assets be invested in
Taxable Investments and Municipal Obligations the interest from which gives rise
to a preference item for the purpose of the alternate minimum tax. When the Fund
has adopted a temporary defensive position, including when acceptable California
Municipal Obligations are unavailable for investment by the Fund, in excess of
35% of the Fund's assets may be invested in securities that are not exempt from
California personal income taxes. Under normal market conditions, the Fund
anticipates that not more than 5% of the value of its total assets will be
invested in any one category of Taxable Investments.
Investment Techniques
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction
with the Fund's Prospectus. The Fund's use of certain of the investment
techniques described below may give rise to taxable income.
Borrowing Money. The Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), which
permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33-1/3% of the value
of its total assets. The Fund currently intends to borrow money only for
temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the
value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser
of cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the
time the borrowing is made. While borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments.
Lending Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend securities from its
portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow
securities to complete certain transactions. The Fund continues to be entitled
to payments in amounts equal to the interest or other distributions payable on
the loaned securities which affords the Fund an opportunity to earn interest on
the amount of the loan and on the loaned securities' collateral. Loans of
portfolio securities may not exceed 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's total
assets, and the Fund will receive collateral consisting of cash, U.S. Government
securities or irrevocable letters of credit which will be maintained at all
times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the
loaned securities. Such loans are terminable by the Fund at any time upon
specified notice. The Fund might experience risk of loss if the institution with
which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with
the Fund. In connection with its securities lending transactions, the Fund may
return to the borrower or a third party which is unaffiliated with the Fund, and
which is acting as a "placing broker," a part of the interest earned from the
investment of collateral received for securities loaned.
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in, or enter into, derivatives, such as
options and futures, for a variety of reasons, including to hedge certain market
risks, to provide a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities
or to increase potential income gain. Derivatives may provide a cheaper, quicker
or more specifically focused way for the Fund to invest than "traditional"
securities would.
Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risk,
depending upon the characteristics of the particular derivative and the
portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the
level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is
exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level of
risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making
investments in specific securities. However, derivatives may entail investment
exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small
investment in derivatives could have a large potential impact on the Fund's
performance.
If the Fund invests in derivatives at inopportune times or judges market
conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund's return or result
in a loss. The Fund also could experience losses if its derivatives were poorly
correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund were unable to liquidate
its position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many
derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may
result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for
derivatives.
Although the Fund will not be a commodity pool, certain derivatives
subject the Fund to the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission which
limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in such derivatives. The Fund may
invest in futures contracts and options with respect thereto for hedging
purposes without limit. However, the Fund may not invest in such contracts and
options for other purposes if the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits
and premiums paid for unexpired options with respect to such contracts, other
than for bona fide hedging purposes, exceeds 5% of the liquidation value of the
Fund's assets, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized
losses on such contracts and options; provided, however, that in the case of an
option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may
be excluded in calculating the 5% limitation.
Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through privately
negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter derivatives.
Exchange-traded derivatives generally are guaranteed by the clearing agency
which is the issuer or counterparty to such derivatives. This guarantee usually
is supported by a daily variation margin system operated by the clearing agency
in order to reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency
defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated with
derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast, no clearing agency guarantees
over-the-counter derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-the-counter
derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default. Accordingly, the
Manager will consider the creditworthiness of counterparties to over-the-counter
derivatives in the same manner as it would review the credit quality of a
security to be purchased by the Fund. Over-the-counter derivatives are less
liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since the other party to the transaction
may be the only investor with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be
interested in bidding for it.
Futures Transactions--In General. The Fund may enter into futures contracts in
U.S. domestic markets, such as the Chicago Board of Trade. Engaging in these
transactions involves risk of loss to the Fund which could adversely affect the
value of the Fund's net assets. Although the Fund intends to purchase or sell
futures contracts only if there is an active market for such contracts, no
assurance can be given that a liquid market will exist for any particular
contract at any particular time. Many futures exchanges and boards of trade
limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a
single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular
contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading
may be suspended for specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract
prices could move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little
or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and
potentially subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.
Successful use of futures by the Fund also is subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant market,
and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging purposes, to
ascertain the appropriate correlation between the securities being hedged and
the price movements of the futures contract. For example, if the Fund uses
futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the market value of
securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such securities instead
increase, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value
of securities which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its
futures positions. Furthermore, if in such circumstances the Fund has
insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin
requirements. The Fund may have to sell such securities at a time when it may be
disadvantageous to do so.
Pursuant to regulations and/or published positions of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Fund may be required to segregate permissible liquid
assets to cover its obligations relating to its transactions in derivatives. To
maintain this required cover, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at
disadvantageous prices or times since it may not be possible to liquidate a
derivative position at a reasonable price. In addition, the segregation of such
assets will have the effect of limiting the Fund's ability otherwise to invest
those assets.
Specific Futures Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate
futures contracts. An interest rate future obligates the Fund to purchase or
sell an amount of a specific debt security at a future date at a specific price.
Options--In General. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets, represented by
the premium paid, in the purchase of call and put options with respect to
specific securities or futures contracts. The Fund may write (i.e., sell)
covered call and put option contracts to the extent of 20% of the value of its
net assets at the time such option contracts are written. A call option gives
the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell,
the underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time during
the option period, or at a specific date. Conversely, a put option gives the
purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the
underlying security or securities at the exercise price at any time during the
option period, or at a specific date.
A covered call option written by the Fund is a call option with respect to
which the Fund owns the underlying security or otherwise covers the transaction
by segregating permissible liquid assets. A put option written by the Fund is
covered when, among other things, the Fund segregates permissible liquid assets
having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option to
fulfill the obligation undertaken. The principal reason for writing covered call
and put options is to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return
than would be realized on the underlying securities alone. The Fund receives a
premium from writing covered call or put options which it retains whether or not
the option is exercised.
There is no assurance that sufficient trading interest to create a liquid
secondary market on a securities exchange will exist for any particular option
or at any particular time, and for some options no such secondary market may
exist. A liquid secondary market in an option may cease to exist for a variety
of reasons. In the past, for example, higher than anticipated trading activity
or order flow, or other unforeseen events, at times have rendered certain of the
clearing facilities inadequate and resulted in the institution of special
procedures, such as trading rotations, restrictions on certain types of orders
or trading halts or suspensions in one or more options. There can be no
assurance that similar events, or events that may otherwise interfere with the
timely execution of customers' orders, will not recur. In such event, it might
not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options. If, as a
covered call option writer, the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying
security until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon
exercise or it otherwise covers its position.
Successful use by the Fund of options will be subject to the Manager's
ability to predict correctly movements in interest rates. To the extent the
Manager's predictions are incorrect, the Fund may incur losses.
Future Developments. The Fund may take advantage of opportunities in the
area of options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts and any
other derivatives which are not presently contemplated for use by the Fund or
which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such
opportunities are both consistent with the Fund's investment objective and
legally permissible for the Fund. Before entering into such transactions or
making any such investment, the Fund will provide appropriate disclosure in its
Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase Municipal Obligations and other
securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis, which means that
delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the
commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable
on a forward commitment or when-issued security are fixed when the Fund enters
into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it receives
delivery from the counterparty. The Fund will commit to purchase such securities
only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may
sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. The
Fund will segregate permissible liquid assets at least equal at all times to the
amount of the Fund's purchase commitments.
Municipal Obligations and other securities purchased on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis are subject to changes in value (generally
changing in the same way, i.e. appreciating when interest rates decline and
depreciating when interest rates rise) based upon the public's perception of the
creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of
interest rates. Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued
basis may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations
prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or
when-issued basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in
the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that
obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward
commitment or when-issued basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully invested
may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the Fund's net
assets and its net asset value per share.
Investment Considerations and Risks
Investing in Municipal Obligations. The Fund may invest more than 25% of
the value of its total assets in Municipal Obligations which are related in such
a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting
one such security also would affect the other securities; for example,
securities the interest upon which is paid from revenues of similar types of
projects. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater risk as compared to a
fund that does not follow this practice.
Certain municipal lease/purchase obligations in which the Fund may invest
may contain "non-appropriation" clauses which provide that the municipality has
no obligation to make lease payments in future years unless money is
appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although "non-appropriation"
lease/purchase obligations are secured by the leased property, disposition of
the leased property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. In
evaluating the credit quality of a municipal lease/purchase obligation that is
unrated, the Manager will consider, on an ongoing basis, a number of factors
including the likelihood that the issuing municipality will discontinue
appropriating funding for the leased property.
Certain provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), relating to the issuance of Municipal Obligations may reduce the volume
of Municipal Obligations qualifying for Federal tax exemption. One effect of
these provisions could be to increase the cost of the Municipal Obligations
available for purchase by the Fund and thus reduce available yield. Shareholders
should consult their tax advisers concerning the effect of these provisions on
an investment in the Fund. Proposals that may restrict or eliminate the income
tax exemption for interest on Municipal Obligations may be introduced in the
future. If any such proposal were enacted that would reduce the availability of
Municipal Obligations for investment by the Fund so as to adversely affect Fund
shareholders, the Fund would reevaluate its investment objective and policies
and submit possible changes in the Fund's structure to shareholders for their
consideration. If legislation were enacted that would treat a type of Municipal
Obligation as taxable, the Fund would treat such security as a permissible
Taxable Investment within the applicable limits set forth herein.
Investing in California Municipal Obligations. You should review the
information in "Appendix A," which provides a brief summary of special
investment considerations and risk factors relating to investing in California
Municipal Obligations.
Lower Rated Bonds. The Fund may invest up to 20% of the value of its net
assets in higher yielding (and, therefore, higher risk) debt securities such as
those rated below investment grade by the Rating Agencies (commonly known as
junk bonds). They may be subject to certain risks with respect to the issuing
entity and to greater market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher
rated Municipal Obligations. See "Appendix B" for a general description of the
Rating Agencies' ratings of Municipal Obligations. Although ratings may be
useful in evaluating the safety of interest and principal payments, they do not
evaluate the market value risk of these bonds. The Fund will rely on the
Manager's judgment, analysis and experience in evaluating the creditworthiness
of an issuer.
You should be aware that the market values of many of these bonds tend to
be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher rated securities and
will fluctuate over time. These bonds generally are considered by the Rating
Agencies to be, on balance, predominantly speculative with respect to capacity
to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the
obligation and generally will involve more credit risk than securities in the
higher rating categories.
Because there is no established retail secondary market for many of these
securities, the Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a
limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary
trading market for these bonds does exist, it generally is not as liquid as the
secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary
market may have an adverse impact on market price and yield and the Fund's
ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary to meet the Fund's
liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event such as a
deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The lack of a liquid
secondary market for certain securities also may make it more difficult for the
Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's
portfolio and calculating its net asset value. Adverse publicity and investor
perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the
values and liquidity of these securities. In such cases, judgment may play a
greater role in valuation because less reliable objective data may be available.
These bonds may be particularly susceptible to economic downturns. It is
likely that any economic recession would disrupt severely the market for such
securities and may have an adverse impact on the value of such securities and
could adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay
principal and pay interest thereon which would increase the incidence of default
for such securities.
The Fund may acquire these bonds during an initial offering. Such
securities may involve special risks because they are new issues. The Fund has
no arrangement with any person concerning the acquisition of such securities,
and the Manager will review carefully the credit and other characteristics
pertinent to such new issues.
The credit risk factors pertaining to lower rated securities also apply to
lower rated zero coupon bonds and pay-in-kind bonds, in which the Fund may
invest up to 5% of its total assets. Zero coupon bonds and pay-in-kind bonds
carry an additional risk in that, unlike bonds which pay interest throughout the
period to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until the cash payment date
unless a portion of such securities are sold and, if the issuer defaults, the
Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. See "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes."
Zero Coupon Securities. The Fund may invest in zero coupon securities and
pay-in-kind bonds (bonds which pay interest through the issuance of additional
bonds). Federal income tax law requires the holder of a zero coupon security or
of certain pay-in-kind bonds to accrue income with respect to these securities
prior to the receipt of cash payments. To maintain its qualification as a
regulated investment company and avoid liability for Federal income taxes, the
Fund may be required to distribute such income accrued with respect to these
securities and may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous
circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution
requirements.
Simultaneous Investments. Investment decisions for the Fund are made
independently from those of other investment companies advised by the Manager.
If, however, such other investment companies desire to invest in, or dispose of,
the same securities as the Fund, available investments or opportunities for
sales will be allocated equitably to each investment company. In some cases,
this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position obtained for or
disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the Fund.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy, which cannot be
changed without approval by the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Fund has adopted
investment restrictions numbered 1 through 7 as fundamental policies. Investment
restrictions numbered 8 through 12 are not fundamental policies and may be
changed by a vote of a majority of the Fund's Board members at any time. The
Fund may not:
1. Invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of issuers in any
single industry; provided that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of
Municipal Obligations and, for temporary defensive purposes, securities issued
by banks and obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
2. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act (which
currently limits borrowings to no more than 33-1/3% of the Fund's total assets).
For purposes of this investment restriction, the entry into options, forward
contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options
on futures contracts or indices shall not constitute borrowing.
3. Purchase or sell real estate, commodities or commodity contracts, or
oil and gas interests, but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in
Municipal Obligations secured by real estate or interests therein, or prevent
the Fund from purchasing and selling options, forward contracts, futures
contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on futures contracts
or indices.
4. Underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may
bid separately or as part of a group for the purchase of Municipal Obligations
directly from an issuer for its own portfolio to take advantage of the lower
purchase price available, and except to the extent the Fund may be deemed an
underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by virtue of disposing
of portfolio securities.
5. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt obligations
and the entry into repurchase agreements; however, the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 33-1/3% of the value of its
total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made according to
guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Fund's
Board.
6. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of
the 1940 Act), except to the extent that the activities permitted in Investment
Restrictions numbered 2, 3 and 10 may be deemed to give rise to a senior
security.
7. Sell securities short or purchase securities on margin, but the Fund
may make margin deposits in connection with transactions in options, forward
contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options
on futures contracts or indices.
8. Purchase securities other than Municipal Obligations and Taxable
Investments and those arising out of transactions in futures and options or as
otherwise provided in the Fund's Prospectus.
9. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
10. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets, except
to the extent necessary to secure borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes
and to the extent related to the deposit of assets in escrow in connection with
the purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis and
collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with respect to options,
futures contracts, including those related to indices, and options on futures
contracts or indices.
11. Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than
seven days after notice or purchase securities which are illiquid (which
securities could include participation interests (including municipal
lease/purchase agreements) that are not subject to the demand feature described
in the Fund's Prospectus, floating and variable rate demand obligations as to
which the Fund cannot exercise the demand feature described in the Fund's
Prospectus on less than seven days' notice and as to which there is no secondary
market) if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets would be so
invested.
12. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.
For purposes of Investment Restriction No. 1, industrial development
bonds, where the payment of principal and interest is the ultimate
responsibility of companies within the same industry, are grouped together as
an "industry."
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later increase in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets will
not constitute a violation of such restriction.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Fund's Board is responsible for the management and supervision of the
Fund. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Fund and those
companies that furnish services to the Fund. These companies are as follows:
The Dreyfus Corporation.....................Investment Adviser
Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc...........Distributor
Dreyfus Transfer, Inc.......................Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York........................Custodian
Board members and officers of the Fund, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during at least the last five years, are
shown below.
Board Members of the Fund
JOSEPH S. DiMARTINO, Chairman of the Board. Since January 1995, Chairman of the
Board of various funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. He also is a
director of The Noel Group, Inc., a venture capital company (for which,
from February 1995 until November 1997, he was Chairman of the Board), The
Muscular Dystrophy Association, HealthPlan Services Corporation, a
provider of marketing, administrative and risk management services to
health and other benefit programs, Carlyle Industries, Inc. (formerly,
Belding Heminway Company, Inc.), a button packager and distributor, Career
Blazers, Inc. (formerly, Staffing Resources, Inc.), a temporary placement
agency, and Century Business Services, Inc. (formerly, International
Alliance Services, Inc.), a provider of various outsourcing functions for
small and medium sized companies. For more than five years prior to
January 1995, he was President, a director and, until August 1994, Chief
Operating Officer of the Manager and Executive Vice President and a
director of Dreyfus Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Manager and, until August 24, 1994, the Fund's distributor. From August
1994 until December 31, 1994, he was a director of Mellon Bank
Corporation. He is 55 years old and his address is 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166.
DAVID W. BURKE, Board Member. Board member of various funds in the Dreyfus
Family of Funds. Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an
independent board within the United States Information Agency, from August
1994 to November 1998. From August 1994 to December 1994, Mr. Burke was a
Consultant to the Manager, and from October 1990 to August 1994, he was
Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Manager. From 1977
to 1990, Mr. Burke was involved in the management of national television
news, as Vice President and Executive Vice President of ABC News, and
subsequently as President of CBS News. He is 62 years old and his address
is Box 654, Eastham, Massachusetts 02642.
SAMUEL CHASE, Board Member. Retired. From 1982 to 1996, Mr. Chase was
President of Samuel Chase & Company, Ltd., an economic consulting
firm. He is 67 years old and his address is 10380 Springhill Road,
Belgrade, Montana 59714.
GORDON J. DAVIS, Board Member. Since October 1994, a senior partner with the law
firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae. From 1983 to September 1994, Mr.
Davis was a senior partner with the law firm of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett
Smith. From 1978 to 1983, he was Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for
the City of New York. He is also a director of Consolidated Edison, a
utility company, and Phoenix Home Life Insurance Company and a member of
various other corporate and not-for-profit boards. He is 57 years old and
his address is 241 Central Park West, New York, New York 10023.
JONI EVANS, Board Member. Senior Vice President of the William Morris Agency
since September 1993. From September 1987 to May 1993, Executive Vice
President of Random House Inc. and, from January 1991 to May 1993,
President and Publisher of Turtle Bay Books; from January 1987 to December
1990, Publisher of Random House-Adult Trade Division; from September 1985
to September 1987, President of Simon and Schuster-Trade Division. She is
56 years old and her address is 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10019.
ARNOLD S. HIATT, Board Member. Chairman of The Stride Rite Foundation. From
1969 to June 1992, Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Executive
Officer of The Stride Rite Corporation, a multi-divisional footwear
manufacturing and retailing company. Mr. Hiatt is also a director of
The Cabot Corporation. He is 71 years old and his address is 400
Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
BURTON N. WALLACK, Board Member. President and co-owner of Wallack Management
Company, a real estate management company managing real estate in the New
York City area. He is 48 years old and his address is 18 East 64th Street,
New York, New York 10021.
For so long as the Fund's plan described in the section "Shareholder
Services Plan" remains in effect, the Board members of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, will be selected
and nominated by the Board members who are not "interested persons" of the Fund.
The Fund typically pays its Board members an annual retainer and a per
meeting fee and reimburses them for their expenses. The Chairman of the Board
receives an additional 25% of such compensation. Emeritus Board members are
entitled to receive an annual retainer and a per meeting fee of one-half the
amount paid to them as Board members. The aggregate amount of compensation paid
by the Fund to each Board member for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, and by
all funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds for which such person was a Board
member (the number of which is set forth in parenthesis next to each Board
member's total compensation)* for the year ended December 31, 1998, was as
follows:
Aggregate Total Compensation From
Name of Board Compensation Fund and Fund Complex
Member From Fund** Paid to Board Member
Joseph S. DiMartino $8,750 $619,660(187)
David W. Burke $7,000 $233,500(62)
Samuel Chase $6,500 $45,000(12)
Gordon J. Davis $7,000 $83,500(29)
Joni Evans $6,500 $45,000(12)
Arnold S. Hiatt $6,000 $37,500(12)
Burton N. Wallack $7,000 $45,000(12)
- ---------------------
* Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the investment
companies in the Fund Complex, including the Fund, for which the Board
member serves.
** Amount does not include reimbursed expenses for attending Board meetings,
which amounted to $2,740 for all Board members as a group.
Officers of the Fund
MARIE E. CONNOLLY, President and Treasurer. President, Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Compliance Officer and a director of the Distributor and Funds
Distributor, Inc., the ultimate parent of which is Boston Institutional
Group, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. She is 41 years old.
MARGARET W. CHAMBERS, Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President and
General Counsel of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From August
1996 to March 1998, she was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel
for Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. From January 1986 to July 1996, she was
an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray. She is 38 years old.
*FREDERICK C. DEY, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary. Vice President, New Business Development of Funds
Distributor, Inc., since September 1994, and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. He is 37
years old.
STEPHANIE D. PIERCE, Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer. Vice President of the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc.,
and an officer of other investment companies advised or administered by
the Manager. From April 1997 to March 1998, she was employed as a
Relationship Manager with Citibank, N.A. From August 1995 to April 1997,
she was an Assistant Vice President with Hudson Valley Bank, and from
September 1990 to August 1995, she was Second Vice President with Chase
Manhattan Bank. She is 30 years old.
*JOHN P. COVINO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President and
Treasury Group Manager of Treasury Servicing and Administration of Funds
Distributor, Inc., since December 1998. From December 1995 to November
1998, he was employed by Fidelity Investments where he held multiple
positions in their Institutional Brokerage Group. Prior to joining
Fidelity, he was employed by SunGard Brokerage systems where he was
responsible for the technology and development of the accounting product
group. He is 35 years old.
MARY A. NELSON, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President of
the Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. She is 34
years old.
*GEORGE A. RIO, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Executive Vice President
and Client Service Director of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of
other investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
June 1995 to March 1998, he was Senior Vice President and Senior Key
Account Manager for Putnam Mutual Funds. From May 1994 to June 1995, he
was Director of Business Development for First Data Corporation. He is 43
years old.
JOSEPH F. TOWER, III, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of the
Distributor and Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. He is 36
years old.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice
President of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other
investment companies advised or administered by the Manager. From
April 1993 to January 1995, he was a Senior Fund Accountant for
Investors Bank & Trust Company. He is 29 years old.
*KAREN JACOPPO-WOOD, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President and
Senior Counsel of Funds Distributor, Inc., since February 1997, and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From June 1994 to January 1996, she was Manager of SEC
Registration at Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. She is 32 years old.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of Funds Distributor,
Inc., and an officer of other investment companies advised or
administered by the Manager. From April 1994 to July 1996, he was
Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial Group. He is 33 years old.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Manager of
Treasury Services Administration of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an
officer of other investment companies advised or administered by the
Manager. From July 1994 to November 1995, she was a Fund Accountant
for Investors Bank & Trust Company. She is 26 years old.
ELBA VASQUEZ, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Assistant Vice President
of Funds Distributor, Inc., and an officer of other investment companies
advised or administered by the Manager. From March 1990 to May 1996, she
was employed by U.S. Trust Company of New York where she held various
sales and marketing positions. She is 37 years old.
The address of each officer of the Fund is 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10166, except those officers indicated by an (*), whose address is 60 State
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
The Fund's Board members and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of
the Fund's voting securities outstanding on July 20, 1999.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Investment Adviser. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon
Bank, N.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation
("Mellon"). Mellon is a publicly owned multibank holding company incorporated
under Pennsylvania law in 1971 and registered under the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Mellon provides a comprehensive range of
financial products and services in domestic and selected international markets.
Mellon is among the twenty-five largest bank holding companies in the United
States based on total assets.
The Manager provides management services pursuant to the Management
Agreement (the "Agreement") dated August 24, 1994 with the Fund, which is
subject to annual approval by (i) the Fund's Board or (ii) vote of a majority
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund,
provided that in either event the continuance also is approved by a majority of
the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Fund or the Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. The Agreement was approved by shareholders
on August 2, 1994, and was last approved by the Fund's Board, including a
majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" of any party to
the Agreement, at a meeting held on April 21, 1999. The Agreement is terminable
without penalty, on not more than 60 days' notice, by the Fund's Board or by
vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting shares, or,
upon not less than 90 days' notice, by the Manager. The Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following persons are officers and/or directors of the Manager:
Christopher M. Condron, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer;
Stephen E. Canter, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment
Officer and a director; Lawrence S. Kash, Vice Chairman and a director; J.
David Officer, Vice Chairman and a director; Thomas F. Eggers, Vice
Chairman--Institutional and a director; Ronald P. O'Hanley III, Vice
Chairman; William T. Sandalls, Jr., Executive Vice President; Mark N. Jacobs,
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; Diane P. Durnin, Vice
President--Product Development; Patrice M. Kozlowski, Vice
President--Corporate Communications; Mary Beth Leibig, Vice President--Human
Resources; Andrew S. Wasser, Vice President--Information Systems; Theodore A.
Schachar, Vice President; Wendy Strutt, Vice President; Richard Terres, Vice
President; William H. Maresca, Controller; James Bitetto, Assistant
Secretary; Steven F. Newman, Assistant Secretary; and Mandell L. Berman,
Burton C. Borgelt, Steven G. Elliot, Martin C. McGuinn, Richard W. Sabo and
Richard F. Syron, directors.
The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance
with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's
Board. The Manager is responsible for investment decisions and provides the
Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Fund's Board to
execute purchases and sales of securities. The Fund's portfolio managers
are: Richard J. Moynihan, W. Michael Petty, Joseph P. Darcy, A. Paul
Disdier, Douglas J. Gaylor, Stephen C. Kris, Jill C. Shaffro, Samuel J.
Weinstock and Monica S. Wieboldt. The Manager also maintains a research
department with a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities
analysts who provide research services for the Fund and for other funds
advised by the Manager.
The Manager has a personal securities trading policy (the "Policy") which
restricts the personal securities transactions of its employees. Its primary
purpose is to ensure that personal trading by the Manager's employees does not
disadvantage any fund managed by the Manager. Under the Policy, the Manager's
employees must preclear personal transactions in securities not exempt under the
Policy. In addition, the Manager's employees must report their personal
securities transactions and holdings, which are reviewed for compliance with the
Policy. In that regard, the Manager's portfolio managers and other investment
personnel also are subject to the oversight of Mellon's Investment Ethics
Committee. Portfolio managers and other investment personnel of the Manager who
comply with the Policy's preclearance and disclosure procedures and the
requirements of the Committee may be permitted to purchase, sell or hold
securities which also may be or are held in fund(s) they manage or for which
they otherwise provide investment advice.
All expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund are borne by the Fund,
except to the extent specifically assumed by the Manager. The expenses borne by
the Fund include: taxes, interest, loan commitment fees, interest and
distributions paid on securities sold short, brokerage fees and commissions, if
any, fees of Board members who are not officers, directors, employees or holders
of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Manager, Securities
and Exchange Commission fees, state Blue Sky qualification fees, advisory fees,
charges of custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing agents' fees, certain
insurance premiums, industry association fees, outside auditing and legal
expenses, costs of independent pricing services, costs of maintaining corporate
existence, costs attributable to investor services (including, without
limitation, telephone and personnel expenses), costs of shareholders' reports
and corporate meetings, costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and
statements of additional information for regulatory purposes and for
distribution to existing shareholders and any extraordinary expenses.
The Manager maintains office facilities on behalf of the Fund, and
furnishes statistical and research data, clerical help, accounting, data
processing, bookkeeping and internal auditing and certain other required
services to the Fund. The Manager may pay the Distributor for shareholder
services from the Manager's own assets, including past profits but not including
the management fee paid by the Fund. The Distributor may use part or all of such
payments to pay certain financial institutions (which may include banks)
securities dealers and other industry professionals in respect of these
services. The Manager also may make such advertising and promotional
expenditures, using its own resources, as it from time to time deems
appropriate.
As compensation for the Manager's services, the Fund has agreed to pay the
Manager a monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60% of the value of the
Fund's average daily net assets. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and
deducted before declaration of dividends to investors. The management fees paid
to the Manager for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 amounted
to $8,259,304, $7,979,665 and $7,728,575, respectively.
The Manager has agreed that if, in any fiscal year, the aggregate expenses
of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, brokerage fees, interest on borrowings and
(with the prior written consent of the necessary state securities commissions)
extraordinary expenses, but including the management fee, exceed 1-1/2% of the
value of the Fund's average net assets for the fiscal year, the Fund may deduct
from the payment to be made to the Manager under the Agreement, or the Manager
will bear, such excess expense. Such deduction or payment, if any, will be
estimated daily, and reconciled and effected or paid, as the case may be, on a
monthly basis.
The aggregate of the fees payable to the Manager is not subject to
reduction as the value of the Fund's net assets increases.
Distributor. The Distributor, located at 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, serves as the Fund's distributor on a best efforts basis
pursuant to an agreement which is renewable annually.
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Custodian. Dreyfus Transfer,
Inc. (the "Transfer Agent"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager, P.O. Box
9671, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9671, is the Fund's transfer and dividend
disbursing agent. Under a transfer agency agreement with the Fund, the Transfer
Agent arranges for the maintenance of shareholder account records for the Fund,
the handling of certain communications between shareholders and the Fund and the
payment of dividends and distributions payable by the Fund. For these services,
the Transfer Agent receives a monthly fee computed on the basis of the number of
shareholder accounts it maintains for the Fund during the month, and is
reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
The Bank of New York (the "Custodian"), 90 Washington Street, New York,
New York 10286, is the Fund's custodian. The Custodian has no part in
determining the investment policies of the Fund or which securities are to be
purchased or sold by the Fund. Under a custody agreement with the Fund, the
Custodian holds the Fund's securities and keeps all necessary accounts and
records. For its custody services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on
the market value of the Fund's assets held in custody and receives certain
securities transactions charges.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
General. Fund shares are sold without a sales charge. You may be charged a
fee if you effect transactions in Fund shares through a securities dealer, bank
or other financial institution. Stock certificates are issued only upon your
written request. No certificates are issued for fractional shares. It is not
recommended that the Fund be used as a vehicle for Keogh, IRA or other qualified
plans. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500, or $1,000 if you are a client of
a securities dealer, bank or other financial institution which maintains an
omnibus account in the Fund and has made an aggregate minimum initial purchase
for its customers of $2,500. Subsequent investments must be at least $100. The
initial investment must be accompanied by the Account Application. For full-time
or part-time employees of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries,
directors of the Manager, Board members of a fund advised by the Manager,
including members of the Fund's Board, or the spouse or minor child of any of
the foregoing, the minimum initial investment is $1,000. For full-time or
part-time employees of the Manager or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries who
elect to have a portion of their pay directly deposited into their Fund
accounts, the minimum initial investment is $50. The Fund reserves the right to
vary further the initial and subsequent investment minimum requirements at any
time.
Fund shares also are offered without regard to the minimum initial
investment requirements through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder(R), Dreyfus
Government Direct Deposit Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan pursuant to
the Dreyfus Step Program described under "Shareholder Services." These services
enable you to make regularly scheduled investments and may provide you with a
convenient way to invest for long-term financial goals. You should be aware,
however, that periodic investment plans do not guarantee a profit and will not
protect you against loss in a declining market.
Shares are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value per share
next determined after an order in proper form is received by the Transfer Agent
or other entity authorized to receive orders on behalf of the Fund. Net asset
value per share is determined as of the close of trading on the floor of the New
York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), on each day the New
York Stock Exchange is open for business. For purposes of determining net asset
value per share, options and futures contracts will be valued 15 minutes after
the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Net asset
value per share is computed by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets
(i.e., the value of its assets less liabilities) by the total number of shares
outstanding. The Fund's investments are valued by an independent pricing service
approved by the Fund's Board and are valued at fair value as determined by the
pricing service. The pricing service's procedures are reviewed under the general
supervision of the Board. For further information regarding the methods employed
in valuing Fund investments, see "Determination of Net Asset Value."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may purchase shares by telephone if
you have checked the appropriate box and supplied the necessary information on
the Account Application or have filed a Shareholder Services Form with the
Transfer Agent. The proceeds will be transferred between the bank account
designated in one of these documents and your fund account. Only a bank account
maintained in a domestic financial institution which is an Automated Clearing
House ("ACH") member may be so designated.
Dreyfus TeleTransfer purchase orders may be made at any time. Purchase
orders received by 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the Transfer Agent and
the New York Stock Exchange are open for business will be credited to the
shareholder's Fund account on the next bank business day following such purchase
order. Purchase orders made after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the
Transfer Agent and the New York Stock Exchange are open for business, or orders
made on Saturday, Sunday or any Fund holiday (e.g., when the New York Stock
Exchange is not open for business), will be credited to the shareholder's Fund
account on the second bank business day following such purchase order. To
qualify to use the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege, the initial payment for
purchase of shares must be drawn on, and redemption proceeds paid to, the same
bank and account as are designated on the Account Application or Shareholder
Services Form on file. If the proceeds of a particular redemption are to be
wired to an account at any other bank, the request must be in writing and
signature-guaranteed. See "How to Redeem Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer
Privilege."
Reopening an Account. You may reopen an account with a minimum investment
of $100 without filing a new Account Application during the calendar year the
account is closed or during the following calendar year, provided the
information on the old Account Application is still applicable.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to
which the Fund reimburses Dreyfus Service Corporation an amount not to exceed an
annual rate of .25% of the value of the Fund's average daily net assets for
certain allocated expenses of providing personal services and/or maintaining
shareholder accounts. The services provided may include personal services
relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries
regarding the Fund and providing reports and other information, and services
related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
A quarterly report of the amounts expended under the Plan, and the
purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, must be made to the Fund's
Board for its review. In addition, the Plan provides that material amendments of
the Plan must be approved by the Fund's Board, and by the Board members who are
not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund and have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan, by vote cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments.
The Plan is subject to annual approval by such vote of the Board members cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan was
last so approved on July 14, 1999. The Plan is terminable at any time by vote of
a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" and have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, $647,766 was chargeable to the
Fund under the Plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Redemption Fee. The Fund will deduct a redemption fee equal to .10% of the
net asset value of Fund shares redeemed (including redemptions through the use
of the Fund Exchanges service) less than 15 days following the issuance of such
shares. The redemption fee will be deducted from the redemption proceeds and
retained by the Fund. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Fund retained
$12,091 in redemption fees.
No redemption fee will be charged on the redemption or exchange of shares
(1) through the Fund's Check Redemption Privilege, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, or
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege, (2) through accounts that are reflected on the
records of the Transfer Agent as omnibus accounts approved by Dreyfus Service
Corporation, (3) through accounts established by securities dealers, banks or
other financial institutions approved by Dreyfus Service Corporation that
utilize the National Securities Clearing Corporation's networking system, or (4)
acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
The redemption fee may be waived, modified or terminated at any time, or from
time to time.
Check Redemption Privilege. The Fund provides Redemption Checks ("Checks")
automatically upon opening an account, unless you specifically refuse the Check
Redemption Privilege by checking the applicable "No" box on the Account
Application. The Check Redemption Privilege may be established for an existing
account by a separate signed Shareholder Services Form. Checks will be sent only
to the registered owner(s) of the account and only to the address of record. The
Account Application or Shareholder Services Form must be manually signed by the
registered owner(s). Checks may be made payable to the order of any person in an
amount of $500 or more. When a Check is presented to the Transfer Agent for
payment, the Transfer Agent, as your agent, will cause the Fund to redeem a
sufficient number of shares in your account to cover the amount of the Check.
Dividends are earned until the Check clears. After clearance, a copy of the
Check will be returned to you. You generally will be subject to the same rules
and regulations that apply to checking accounts, although the election of this
Privilege creates only a shareholder-transfer agent relationship with the
Transfer Agent.
You should date your Checks with the current date when you write them.
Please do not postdate your Checks. If you do, the Transfer Agent will honor,
upon presentment, even if presented before the date of the Check, all postdated
Checks which are dated within six months of presentment for payment, if they are
otherwise in good order.
Checks are free, but the Transfer Agent will impose a fee for stopping
payment of a Check upon your request or if the Transfer Agent cannot honor a
Check due to insufficient funds or other valid reason. If the amount of the
Check is greater than the value of the shares in your account, the Check will be
returned marked insufficient funds. Checks should not be used to close an
account.
This Privilege will be terminated immediately, without notice, with
respect to any account which is, or becomes, subject to backup withholding on
redemptions. Any Check written on an account which has become subject to backup
withholding on redemptions will not be honored by the Transfer Agent.
Wire Redemption Privilege. By using this Privilege, you authorize the
Transfer Agent to act on wire, telephone or letter redemption instructions from
any person representing himself or herself to be you and reasonably believed by
the Transfer Agent to be genuine. Ordinarily, the Fund will initiate payment for
shares redeemed pursuant to this Privilege on the next business day after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form. Redemption
proceeds ($1,000 minimum) will be transferred by Federal Reserve wire only to
the commercial bank account specified by you on the Account Application or
Shareholder Services Form, or to a correspondent bank if your bank is not a
member of the Federal Reserve System. Fees ordinarily are imposed by such bank
and borne by the investor. Immediate notification by the correspondent bank to
your bank is necessary to avoid a delay in crediting the funds to your bank
account.
If you have access to telegraphic equipment, you may wire redemption
requests to the Transfer Agent by employing the following transmittal code which
may be used for domestic or overseas transmissions:
Transfer Agent's
Transmittal Code Answer Back Sign
144295 144295 TSSG PREP
If you do not have direct access to telegraphic equipment, you may have
the wire transmitted by contacting a TRT Cables operator at 1-800-654-7171, toll
free. You should advise the operator that the above transmittal code must be
used and should also inform the operator of the Transfer Agent's answer back
sign.
To change the commercial bank or account designated to receive redemption
proceeds, a written request must be sent to the Transfer Agent. This request
must be signed by each shareholder, with each signature guaranteed as described
below under "Stock Certificates; Signatures."
Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege. You may request by telephone that
redemption proceeds be transferred between your Fund account and your bank
account. Only a bank account maintained in a domestic financial institution
which is an ACH member may be designated. Holders of jointly registered Fund or
bank accounts may redeem through the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege for transfer
to their bank account not more than $250,000 within any 30-day period. You
should be aware that if you have selected the Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege,
any request for a wire redemption will be effected as a Dreyfus TeleTransfer
transaction through the ACH system unless more prompt transmittal specifically
is requested. Redemption proceeds will be on deposit in the your account at an
ACH member bank ordinarily two business days after receipt of the redemption
request. See "How to Buy Shares--Dreyfus TeleTransfer Privilege."
Stock Certificates; Signatures. Any certificates representing Fund shares
to be redeemed must be submitted with the redemption request. Written redemption
requests must be signed by each shareholder, including each holder of a joint
account, and each signature must be guaranteed. Signatures on endorsed
certificates submitted for redemption also must be guaranteed. The Transfer
Agent has adopted standards and procedures pursuant to which
signature-guarantees in proper form generally will be accepted from domestic
banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges,
registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations,
as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature
Program, the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") and the
Stock Exchanges Medallion Program. Guarantees must be signed by an authorized
signatory of the guarantor, and "Signature-Guaranteed" must appear with the
signature. The Transfer Agent may request additional documentation from
corporations, executors, administrators, trustees or guardians, and may accept
other suitable verification arrangements from foreign investors, such as
consular verification. For more information with respect to
signature-guarantees, please call one of the telephone numbers listed on the
cover.
Redemption Commitment. The Fund has committed itself to pay in cash all
redemption requests by any shareholder of record, limited in amount during any
90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the Fund's net
assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is irrevocable without
the prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is a
fundamental policy of the Fund which may not be changed without shareholder
approval. In the case of requests for redemption in excess of such amount, the
Board reserves the right to make payments in whole or in part in securities or
other assets of the Fund in case of an emergency or any time a cash distribution
would impair the liquidity of the Fund to the detriment of the existing
shareholders. In such event, the securities would be valued in the same manner
as the Fund's portfolio is valued. If the recipient sells such securities,
brokerage charges might be incurred.
Suspension of Redemptions. The right of redemption may be suspended or the
date of payment postponed (a) during any period when the New York Stock Exchange
is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b) when trading
in the markets the Fund ordinarily utilizes is restricted, or when an emergency
exists as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission so that disposal
of the Fund's investments or determination of its net asset value is not
reasonably practicable, or (c) for such other periods as the Securities and
Exchange Commission by order may permit to protect the Fund's shareholders.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Fund Exchanges. You may purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund,
shares of certain other funds managed or administered by the Manager, to the
extent such shares are offered for sale in your state of residence. The Fund
will deduct a redemption fee equal to .10% of the net asset value of Fund shares
exchanged out of the Fund where the exchange is made less than 15 days after the
issuance of such shares. Shares of other funds purchased by exchange will be
purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share as follows:
A. Exchanges for shares of funds offered without a sales load will be
made without a sales load.
B. Shares of funds purchased without a sales load may be exchanged for
shares of other funds sold with a sales load, and the applicable
sales load will be deducted.
C.....Shares of funds purchased with a sales load may be exchanged without
a sales load for shares of other funds sold without a sales load.
D. Shares of funds purchased with a sales load, shares of funds
acquired by a previous exchange from shares purchased with a
sales load, and additional shares acquired through reinvestment
of dividends or distributions of any such funds (collectively
referred to herein as "Purchased Shares") may be exchanged for
shares of other funds sold with a sales load (referred to herein
as "Offered Shares"), but if the sales load applicable to the
Offered Shares exceeds the maximum sales load that could have
been imposed in connection with the Purchased Shares (at the time
the Purchased Shares were acquired), without giving effect to any
reduced loads, the difference will be deducted.
To accomplish an exchange under item D above, you must notify the Transfer
Agent of your prior ownership of fund shares and your account number.
To request an exchange, you must give exchange instructions to the
Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. The ability to issue exchange
instructions by telephone is given to all Fund shareholders automatically,
unless you check the applicable "No" box on the Account Application, indicating
that you specifically refuse this Privilege. By using the Telephone Exchange
Privilege, you authorize the Transfer Agent to act on telephonic instructions
(including over The Dreyfus Touch(R) automated telephone system) from any person
representing himself or herself to be you and reasonably believed by the
Transfer Agent to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may be subject to limitations
as to the amount involved or the number of telephone exchanges permitted. Shares
issued in certificate form are not eligible for telephone exchange. No fees
currently are charged shareholders directly in connection with exchanges,
although the Fund reserves the right, upon not less than 60 days' written
notice, to charge shareholders a nominal administrative fee in accordance with
rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
To establish a personal retirement plan by exchange, shares of the fund
being exchanged must have a value of at least the minimum initial investment
required for the fund into which the exchange is being made.
Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege. Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege permits
you to purchase, in exchange for shares of the Fund, shares of another fund in
the Dreyfus Family of Funds of which you are a shareholder. This Privilege is
available only for existing accounts. Shares will be exchanged on the basis of
relative net asset value as described above under "Fund Exchanges." Enrollment
in or modification or cancellation of this Privilege is effective three business
days following notification by the investor. You will be notified if your
account falls below the amount designated to be exchanged under this Privilege.
In this case, your account will fall to zero unless additional investments are
made in excess of the designated amount prior to the next Auto-Exchange
transaction. Shares held under IRA and other retirement plans are eligible for
this Privilege. Exchanges of IRA shares may be made between IRA accounts and
from regular accounts to IRA accounts, but not from IRA accounts to regular
accounts. With respect to all other retirement accounts, exchanges may be made
only among those accounts.
Shareholder Services Forms and prospectuses of the other funds may be
obtained by calling 1-800-645-6561. The Fund reserves the right to reject any
exchange request in whole or in part. Shares may be exchanged only between
accounts having identical names and other identifying designations. The Fund
Exchanges service or Dreyfus Auto-Exchange Privilege may be modified or
terminated at any time upon notice to shareholders.
Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder(R). Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder
permits you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and maximum of $150,000 per
transaction) at regular intervals selected by you. Fund shares are purchased by
transferring funds from the bank account designated by you.
Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege. Dreyfus Government Direct
Deposit Privilege enables you to purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 and
maximum of $50,000 per transaction) by having Federal salary, Social Security,
or certain veterans', military or other payments from the U.S. Government
automatically deposited into your fund account. You may deposit as much of such
payments as you elect.
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan permits you to
purchase Fund shares (minimum of $100 per transaction) automatically on a
regular basis. Depending upon your employer's direct deposit program, you may
have part or all of your paycheck transferred to your existing Dreyfus account
electronically through the ACH system at each pay period. To establish a Dreyfus
Payroll Savings Plan account, you must file an authorization form with your
employer's payroll department. It is the sole responsibility of your employer to
arrange for transactions under the Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan.
Dreyfus Step Program. The Dreyfus Step Program enables you to purchase
Fund shares without regard to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirements
through Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder(R), Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit
Privilege or Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan. To establish a Dreyfus Step Program
account, you must supply the necessary information on the Account Application
and file the required authorization form(s) with the Transfer Agent. For more
information concerning this Program, or to request the necessary authorization
form(s), please call toll free 1-800-782-6620. You may terminate your
participation in this Program at any time by discontinuing your participation in
Dreyfus-Automatic Asset Builder, Dreyfus Government Direct Deposit Privilege or
Dreyfus Payroll Savings Plan, as the case may be, as provided under the terms of
such Privilege(s). The Fund may modify or terminate this Program at any time.
Dreyfus Dividend Options. Dreyfus Dividend Sweep allows you to invest
automatically your dividends or dividends and capital gain distributions, if
any, from the Fund in shares of another fund in the Dreyfus Family of Funds of
which you are a shareholder. Shares of other funds purchased pursuant to this
privilege will be purchased on the basis of relative net asset value per share
as follows:
A. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested
without imposition of a sales load in shares of other funds
offered without a sales load.
B. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund which does not
charge a sales load may be invested in shares of other funds
sold with a sales load, and the applicable sales load will be
deducted.
C. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund that charges a
sales load may be invested in shares of other funds sold
with a sales load (referred to herein as "Offered Shares"),
but if the sales load applicable to the Offered Shares
exceeds the maximum sales load charged by the fund from
which dividends or distributions are being swept (without
giving effect to any reduced loads), the difference will be
deducted.
D. Dividends and distributions paid by a fund may be invested in
shares of other funds that impose a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") and the applicable CDSC, if any, will be
imposed upon redemption of such shares.
Dreyfus Dividend ACH permits you to transfer electronically dividends or
dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, from the Fund to a designated
bank account. Only an account maintained at a domestic financial institution
which is an ACH member may be so designated. Banks may charge a fee for this
service.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan permits you to
request withdrawal of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $50) on either a
monthly or quarterly basis if you have a $5,000 minimum account. Withdrawal
payments are the proceeds from sales of Fund shares, not the yield on the
shares. If withdrawal payments exceed reinvested dividends and distributions,
your shares will be reduced and eventually may be depleted. Automatic Withdrawal
may be terminated at any time by you, the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Shares for
which certificates have been issued may not be redeemed through the Automatic
Withdrawal Plan.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Valuation of Portfolio Securities. The Fund's investments are valued each
business day by an independent pricing service (the "Service") approved by the
Fund's Board. When, in the judgment of the Service, quoted bid prices for
investments are readily available and are representative of the bid side of the
market, these investments are valued at the mean between the quoted bid prices
(as obtained by the Service from dealers in such securities) and asked prices
(as calculated by the Service based upon its evaluation of the market for such
securities). Other investments (which constitute a majority of the portfolio
securities) are carried at fair value as determined by the Service, based on
methods which include consideration of: yields or prices of municipal bonds of
comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from
dealers; and general market conditions. The Service may employ electronic data
processing techniques and/or a matrix system to determine valuations. The
Service's procedures are reviewed by the Fund's officers under the general
supervision of the Fund's Board. Expenses and fees, including the management fee
(reduced by the expense limitation, if any), are accrued daily and are taken
into account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of Fund shares.
New York Stock Exchange Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which
the New York Stock Exchange is closed currently are: New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Management believes that the Fund has qualified as a "regulated investment
company" under the Code for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999 and the Fund
intends to continue to so qualify, if such qualification is in the best
interests of its shareholders. To qualify as a regulated investment company, the
Fund must distribute at least 90% of its net income (consisting of net
investment income from tax exempt obligations and net short-term capital gains)
to its shareholders, and must meet certain asset diversification and other
requirements. Accordingly, the Fund may be restricted in the selling of
securities held for less than three months. If the Fund did not qualify as a
regulated investment company, it would be treated for tax purposes as an
ordinary corporation subject to Federal income tax. The term "regulated
investment company" does not imply the supervision of management or investment
practices or policies by any government agency.
The Fund ordinarily declares dividends from its net investment income on
each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Fund shares begin
earning dividends on the day following the date of purchase. The Fund's earnings
for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are declared as dividends on the next
business day. Dividends usually are paid on the last business day of each month
and are automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value
or, at your option, paid in cash. If you redeem all shares in your account at
any time during the month, all dividends to which you are entitled will be paid
to you along with the proceeds of the redemption. If you are an omnibus
accountholder and indicate in a partial redemption request that a portion of any
accrued dividends to which such account is entitled belongs to an underlying
accountholder who has redeemed all shares in his or her account, such portion of
the accrued dividends will be paid to you along with the proceeds of the
redemption. Distributions from net realized securities gains, if any, generally
are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund may make distributions on a more
frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all
events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.
If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and your
dividend or distribution check is returned to the Fund as undeliverable or
remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest such
dividend or distribution and all future dividends and distributions payable to
you in additional Fund shares at net asset value. No interest will accrue on
amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks. All expenses
are accrued daily and deducted before declaration of dividends to investors.
Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor's purchase may
have the effect of reducing the net asset value of his shares below the cost of
his investment. Such a distribution would be a return on investment in an
economic sense although taxable as stated under "Distributions and Taxes" in the
Prospectus. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder has not held
his shares for more than six months (or such shorter period as the Internal
Revenue Service may prescribe by regulation) and has received an exempt-interest
dividend with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such
shares will be disallowed to the extent of the exempt-interest dividend
received.
If, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the
value of the Fund's total assets consists of Federal tax exempt obligations, the
Fund may designate and pay Federal exempt-interest dividends from interest
earned on all such tax exempt obligations. Such exempt-interest dividends may be
excluded by shareholders of the Fund from their gross income for Federal income
tax purposes. Dividends derived from taxable investments, together with
distributions from any net realized short-term securities gains, generally are
taxable as ordinary income for Federal income tax purposes whether or not
reinvested. Distributions from net realized long-term securities gains generally
are taxable as long-term capital gains to a shareholder who is a citizen or
resident of the United States, whether or not reinvested and regardless of the
length of time the shareholder has held his shares.
If, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the
value of the Fund's total assets consists of obligations which, when held by an
individual, the interest therefrom is exempt from California personal income
tax, and if the Fund qualifies as a management company under the California
Revenue and Taxation Code, then the Fund will be qualified to pay dividends to
its shareholders that are exempt from California personal income tax (but not
from California franchise tax) ("California exempt-interest dividends").
However, the total amount of California exempt-interest dividends paid by the
Fund to a non-corporate shareholder with respect to any taxable year cannot
exceed such shareholder's pro rata share of interest received by the Fund during
such year that is exempt from California taxation less any expenses and
expenditures deemed to have been paid from such interest.
For shareholders subject to California personal income tax,
exempt-interest dividends derived from California Municipal Obligations will not
be subject to the California personal income tax. Distributions from net
realized short-term capital gains to California resident shareholders will be
subject to the California personal income tax as ordinary income. Distributions
from net realized long-term capital gains may constitute long-term capital gains
for individual California resident shareholders. Unlike under Federal tax law,
the Fund's shareholders will not be subject to California personal income tax,
or receive a credit for California taxes paid by the Fund, on undistributed
capital gains. In addition, California tax law does not consider any portion of
the exempt-interest dividends paid, an item of tax preference for the purposes
of computing the California alternative minimum tax.
Ordinarily, gains and losses realized from portfolio transactions will be
treated as capital gain or loss. However, all or a portion of the gain realized
from the disposition of certain market discount bonds will be treated as
ordinary income under Section 1276 of the Code. In addition, all or a portion of
the gain realized from engaging in "conversion transactions" may be treated as
ordinary income under Section 1258 of the Code. "Conversion transactions" are
defined to include certain forward, futures, option and "straddle" transactions,
transactions marketed or sold to produce capital gains, or transactions
described in Treasury regulations to be issued in the future.
Under Section 1256 of the Code, gain or loss realized by the Fund from
certain financial futures and options transactions will be treated as 60%
long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or
loss will arise upon exercise or lapse of such futures and options as well as
from closing transactions. In addition, any such futures or options remaining
unexercised at the end of the Fund's taxable year will be treated as sold for
their then fair market value, resulting in additional gain or loss to the Fund
characterized as described above.
Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving certain financial futures
contracts or options transactions may be considered, for tax purposes, to
constitute "straddles." "Straddles" are defined to include "offsetting
positions" in actively traded personal property. The tax treatment of
"straddles" is governed by Sections 1092 and 1258 of the Code, which, in certain
circumstances, override or modify the provisions of Sections 1256 and 988 of the
Code. As such, all or a portion of any short or long-term capital gain from
certain "straddle" and/or conversion transactions may be recharacterized as
ordinary income.
If the Fund were treated as entering into "straddles" by reason of its
engaging in financial futures contracts or options transactions, such
"straddles" would be characterized as "mixed straddles" if the futures or
options comprising a part of such "straddles" were governed by Section 1256 of
the Code. The Fund may make one or more elections with respect to "mixed
straddles." Depending on which election is made, if any, the results to the Fund
may differ. If no election is made, to the extent the straddle and conversion
transaction rules apply to positions established by the Fund, losses realized by
the Fund will be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in the offsetting
position. Moreover, as a result of the straddle and the conversion transaction
rules, short-term capital losses on straddle positions may be recharacterized as
long-term capital losses, and long-term capital gains on straddle positions may
be recharacterized as short-term capital gains or ordinary income.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included constructive sale provisions that
generally apply if the fund either (1) holds an appreciated financial position
with respect to stock, certain debt obligations, or partnership interests
("appreciated financial positions") and then enters into a short sale, futures,
forward, or offsetting notional principal contract (collectively, a "Contract")
respecting the same or substantially identical property or (2) holds an
appreciated financial position that is a Contract and then acquires property
that is the same as, or substantially identical to, the underlying property. In
each instance, with certain exceptions, the Fund generally will be taxed as if
the appreciated financial position were sold at its fair market value on the
date the Fund enters into the financial position or acquires the property,
respectively. Transactions that are identified as hedging or straddle
transactions under other provisions of the Code can be subject to the
constructive sale provisions.
Investment by the Fund in securities issued at a discount or providing for
deferred interest or for payment of interest in the form of additional
obligations could, under special tax rules, affect the amount, timing and
character of distributions to shareholders. For example, the Fund could be
required to take into account annually a portion of the discount (or deemed
discount) at which such securities were issued and to distribute such portion in
order to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company. In such
case, the Fund may have to dispose of securities which it might otherwise have
continued to hold in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution
requirements.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Portfolio securities ordinarily are purchased from and sold to parties
acting as either principal or agent. Newly-issued securities ordinarily are
purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter; other purchases and
sales usually are placed with those dealers from which it appears that the best
price or execution will be obtained. Usually no brokerage commissions, as such,
are paid by the Fund for such purchases and sales, although the price paid
usually includes an undisclosed compensation to the dealer acting as agent. The
prices paid to underwriters of newly-issued securities usually include a
concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases of after-market
securities from dealers ordinarily are executed at a price between the bid and
asked price. No brokerage commissions have been paid by the Fund to date.
Transactions are allocated to various dealers by the Fund's portfolio
managers in their best judgment. The primary consideration is prompt and
effective execution of orders at the most favorable price. Subject to that
primary consideration, dealers may be selected for research, statistical or
other services to enable the Manager to supplement its own research and analysis
with the views and information of other securities firms and may be selected
based upon their sales of shares of the Fund or other funds advised by the
Manager or its affiliates.
Research services furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects
securities transactions may be used by the Manager in advising other funds it
advises and, conversely, research services furnished to the Manager by brokers
in connection with other funds the Manager advises may be used by the Manager in
advising the Fund. Although it is not possible to place a dollar value on these
services, it is the opinion of the Manager that the receipt and study of such
services should not reduce the overall expenses of its research department.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Fund's current yield for the 30-day period ended May 31, 1999 was
4.08%. Current yield is computed pursuant to a formula which operates as
follows: the amount of the Fund's expenses accrued for the 30-day period is
subtracted from the amount of the dividends and interest earned (computed in
accordance with regulatory requirements) by the Fund during the period. That
result is then divided by the product of: (a) the average daily number of shares
outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends and
distributions, and (b) the net asset value per share on the last day of the
period less any undistributed earned income per share reasonably expected to be
declared as a dividend shortly thereafter. The quotient is then added to 1, and
that sum is raised to the 6th power, after which 1 is subtracted. The current
yield is then arrived at by multiplying the result by 2.
Based upon a combined 1999 Federal and California personal income tax rate
of 45.22%, the Fund's tax equivalent yield for the 30-day period ended May 31,
1999 was 7.45%. Tax equivalent yield is computed by dividing that portion of the
current yield (calculated as described above) which is tax exempt by 1 minus a
stated tax rate and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the yield of
the Fund that is not tax exempt.
The tax equivalent yield quoted above represents the application of the
highest Federal and State of California marginal personal income tax rates
presently in effect. For Federal personal income tax purposes, the highest 39.6%
tax rate has been used. For California personal income tax purposes, a 11% tax
rate has been used. The tax equivalent figure, however, does not include the
potential effect of any local (including, but not limited to, county, district
or city) taxes, including applicable surcharges. In addition, there may be
pending legislation which could affect such stated tax rates or yield. Each
investor should consult its tax adviser, and consider its own factual
circumstances and applicable tax laws, in order to ascertain the relevant tax
equivalent yield.
The Fund's average annual total return for the 1, 5 and 10 year periods
ended May 31, 1999 was 3.81%, 5.53% and 6.26%, respectively. Average annual
total return is calculated by determining the ending redeemable value of an
investment purchased with a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of
the period (assuming the reinvestment of dividends and distributions), dividing
by the amount of the initial investment, taking the "n"th root of the quotient
(where "n" is the number of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the
result.
The Fund's aggregate total return for the period July 26, 1983
(commencement of operations) to May 31, 1999 was 214.23%. Total return is
calculated by subtracting the amount of the Fund's net asset value per share at
the beginning of a stated period from the net asset value per share at the end
of the period (after giving effect to the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions during the period), and dividing the result by the net asset value
per share at the beginning of the period.
From time to time, the Fund may use hypothetical tax equivalent yields or
charts in its advertising. These hypothetical yields or charts will be used for
illustrative purposes only and are not representative of the Fund's past or
future performance.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, including data from CDA Investment
Technologies, Inc., Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Moody's Bond Survey Bond
Index, Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index, Morningstar, Inc. and other
industry publications. From time to time, advertising materials for the Fund may
refer to or discuss then-current or past economic conditions, developments
and/or events, actual or proposed tax legislation, or to statistical or other
information concerning trends relating to investment companies, as compiled by
industry associations such as the Investment Company Institute. From time to
time, advertising materials for the Fund also may refer to Morningstar ratings
and related analyses supporting the ratings.
From time to time, advertising material for the Fund may include
biographical information relating to its portfolio manager and may refer to, or
include commentary by the portfolio manager relating to investment strategy,
asset growth, current or past business, political, economic or financial
conditions and other matters of general interest to investors.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
Each Fund share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance
with the terms of the offering, is fully paid and nonassessable. Fund shares are
of one class and have equal rights as to dividends and in liquidation. Shares
have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights and are freely
transferable.
Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, ordinarily it will not be
necessary for the Fund to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result,
Fund shareholders may not consider each year the election of Board members or
the appointment of auditors. However, the holders of at least 10% of the shares
outstanding and entitled to vote may require the Fund to hold a special meeting
of shareholders for purposes of removing a Board member from office. Fund
shareholders may remove a Board member by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the Fund's outstanding voting shares. In addition, the Board will call a meeting
of shareholders for the purpose of electing Board members if, at any time, less
than a majority of the Board members then holding office have been elected by
shareholders.
The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not
designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term market
movements. A pattern of frequent purchases and exchanges can be disruptive to
efficient portfolio management and, consequently, can be detrimental to the
Fund's performance and its shareholders. Accordingly, if the Fund's management
determines that an investor is following a market-timing strategy or is
otherwise engaging in excessive trading, the Fund, with or without prior notice,
may temporarily or permanently terminate the availability of Fund Exchanges, or
reject in whole or part any purchase or exchange request, with respect to such
investor's account. Such investors also may be barred from purchasing other
funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. Generally, an investor who makes more than
four exchanges out of the Fund during any calendar year or who makes exchanges
that appear to coincide with a market-timing strategy may be deemed to be
engaged in excessive trading. Accounts under common ownership or control will be
considered as one account for purposes of determining a pattern of excessive
trading. In addition, the Fund may refuse or restrict purchase or exchange
requests by any person or group if, in the judgment of the Fund's management,
the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its
investment objective and policies or could otherwise be adversely affected or if
the Fund receives or anticipates receiving simultaneous orders that may
significantly affect the Fund (e.g., amounts equal to 1% or more of the Fund's
total assets). If an exchange request is refused, the Fund will take no other
action with respect to the shares until it receives further instructions from
the investor. The Fund may delay forwarding redemption proceeds for up to seven
days if the investor redeeming shares is engaged in excessive trading or if the
amount of the redemption request otherwise would be disruptive to efficient
portfolio management or would adversely affect the Fund. The Fund's policy on
excessive trading applies to investors who invest in the Fund directly or
through financial intermediaries, but does not apply to the Dreyfus
Auto-Exchange Privilege, to any automatic investment or withdrawal privilege
described herein, or to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
During times of drastic economic or market conditions, the Fund may
suspend Fund Exchanges temporarily without notice and treat exchange requests
based on their separate components--redemption orders with a simultaneous
request to purchase the other fund's shares. In such a case, the redemption
request would be processed at the Fund's next determined net asset value but the
purchase order would be effective only at the net asset value next determined
after the fund being purchased receives the proceeds of the redemption, which
may result in the purchase being delayed.
To offset the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller accounts, the
Fund charges regular accounts with balances below $2,000 an annual fee of $12.
The valuation of accounts and the deductions are expected to take place during
the last four months of each year. The fee will be waived for any investor whose
aggregate Dreyfus mutual fund investments total at least $25,000, and will not
apply to IRA accounts or to accounts participating in automatic investment
programs or opened through a securities dealer, bank or other financial
institution, or to other fiduciary accounts.
The Fund sends annual and semi-annual financial statements to all its
shareholders.
COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York
10038-4982, as counsel for the Fund, has rendered its opinion as to certain
legal matters regarding the due authorization and valid issuance of the shares
being sold pursuant to the Fund's Prospectus.
Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019,
independent auditors, have been selected as independent auditors of the Fund.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
INVESTING IN CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
The following information is a summary of special factors affecting
investments in California Municipal Securities and is drawn from the Official
Statement issued by the State for its public bond issue on April 1, 1999. The
sources of payment for such obligations and the marketability thereof may be
affected by financial or other difficulties experienced by the State of
California and certain of its municipalities and public authorities. It does not
purport to be a complete description and is based on information from official
statements relating to securities offerings of California issuers.
State Finances
The Budget Process. The State's fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on
June 30. The State operates on a budget basis, using a modified accrual system
of accounting, with revenues credited in the period in which they are measurable
and available and expenditures debited in the period in which the corresponding
liabilities are incurred.
The annual budget is proposed by the Governor by January 10 of each year
for the next fiscal year (the "Governor's Budget"). Under state law, the annual
proposed Governor's Budget cannot provide for projected expenditures in excess
of projected revenues and balances available from prior fiscal years. Following
the submission of the Governor's Budget, the Legislature takes up the proposal.
Under the State Constitution, money may be drawn from the Treasury only
through an appropriation made by law. The primary source of the annual
expenditure authorizations is the Budget Act as approved by the Legislature and
signed by the Governor. The Budget Act must be approved by a two-thirds majority
vote of each House of the Legislature. The Governor may reduce or eliminate
specific line items in the Budget Act or any other appropriations bill without
vetoing the entire bill. Such individual line-item vetoes are subject to
override by a two-thirds majority vote of each House of the Legislature.
Appropriations also may be included in legislation other than the Budget
Act. Bills containing appropriations (except for local school and community
college ("K-14") education) must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote in
each House of the Legislature and be signed by the Governor. Bills containing
K-14 education appropriations only require a simple majority vote. Continuing
appropriations, available without regard to fiscal year, may also be provided by
statute or the State Constitution. There is litigation pending concerning the
validity of such continuing appropriations. See "Litigation" below.
Funds necessary to meet an appropriation need not be in the State
Treasury at the time such appropriation is enacted; revenues may be appropriated
in anticipation of their receipt.
The General Fund. The moneys of the State are segregated into the General
Fund and over 900 special funds, including bond, trust and pension funds. The
General Fund consists of revenues received by the State Treasury and not
required by law to be credited to any other fund, as well as earnings from the
investment of state moneys not allocable to another fund. The General Fund is
the principal operating fund for the majority of governmental activities and is
the depository of most of the major revenue sources of the State. The General
Fund may be expended as a consequence of appropriation measures enacted by the
Legislature and approved by the Governor, as well as appropriations pursuant to
various constitutional authorizations and initiative statutes.
The Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties. The Special Fund for Economic
Uncertainties ("SFEU") is funded with General Fund revenues and was established
to protect the State from unforeseen revenue reductions and/or unanticipated
expenditure increases. Amounts in the SFEU may be transferred by the State
Controller as necessary to meet cash needs of the General Fund. The State
Controller is required to return moneys so transferred without payment of
interest as soon as there are sufficient moneys in the General Fund.
The legislation creating the SFEU (Government Code ss.16418) contains a
continuous appropriation from the General Fund authorizing the State Controller
to transfer to the SFEU, as of the end of each fiscal year, the lesser of (i)
the unencumbered balance in the General Fund and (ii) the difference between the
State's "appropriations subject to limitation" for the fiscal year then ended
and its "appropriations limit" as defined in Section 8 of Article XIII B of the
State Constitution and established in the Budget Act for that fiscal year, as
jointly estimated by the State's Legislative Analyst's Office and the Department
of Finance. For a further description of Article XIII B, see "State
Appropriations Limit" below. In certain circumstances, moneys in the SFEU may be
used in connection with disaster relief.
For budgeting and accounting purposes, any appropriation made from the
SFEU is deemed an appropriation from the General Fund. For year-end reporting
purposes, the State Controller is required to add the balance in the SFEU to the
balance in the General Fund so as to show the total moneys then available for
General Fund purposes.
The June 30, 1999, SFEU projection reflects the latest revenue
projections and expenditure amounts as updated in the 1999-00 Governor's Budget.
As in any year, the Budget Act and related trailer bills are not the only pieces
of legislation which appropriate funds. Other factors including re-estimates of
revenues and expenditures, existing statutory requirements, and additional
legislation introduced and passed by the Legislature may impact the reserve
amount.
In the 1999-00 Governor's Budget, released January 8, 1999, the
Department of Finance projects the SFEU will have a balance of about $617
million at June 30, 1999 and $415 million at June 30, 2000. The June 30, 1999
estimate is reduced from an estimate of approximately $1.2 billion after
adoption of the 1998-99 Budget Act. See "Current State Budget" below.
Welfare Reform. Congress passed and the President signed (on August 22,
1996) the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 (P.L. 104-193, the "Law") fundamentally reforming the nation's welfare
system. Among its many provisions, the Law includes: (i) conversion of Aid to
Families with Dependent Children from an entitlement program to a block grant
titled Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), with lifetime time limits
on TANF recipients, work requirements and other changes; (ii) provisions denying
certain federal welfare and public benefits to legal noncitizens (this provision
has been amended by subsequent federal law), allowing states to elect to deny
additional benefits (including TANF) to legal noncitizens, and generally denying
almost all benefits to illegal immigrants; and (iii) changes in the Food Stamp
program, including reducing maximum benefits and imposing work requirements.
California's response to the federal welfare reforms is embodied in
Chapter 270, Statutes of 1997. This new basic state welfare program is called
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids ("CalWORKs"), which
replaced the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Greater
Avenues to Independence (GAIN) programs, effective January 1, 1998. Consistent
with the federal law, CalWORKs contains new time limits on receipt of welfare
aid, both lifetime as well as for any current period on aid. The centerpiece of
CalWORKs is the linkage of eligibility to work participation requirements.
Administration of the new CalWORKs program is largely at the county level, and
counties are given financial incentives for success in this program.
The long-term impact of the new federal Law and CalWORKs cannot be
determined until there has been more experience and until an independent
evaluation of the CalWORKs program is completed. In the short-term, the
implementation of the CalWORKs program has continued the trend of declining
welfare caseloads. The CalWORKs caseload trend is projected to be 651,350 in
1998-99 and 598,000 in 1999-00, down from a high of 921,000 cases in 1994-95.
The 1999-00 Governor's Budget limits CalWORKs expenditures to the annual
$3.7 billion federal TANF Block Grant and prior year carryover amounts, and the
state General Fund and county General Fund combined Maintenance of Effort
Requirement of $2.9 billion. Any decision to maintain or exceed the Maintenance
of Effort Requirement would need to be made in the context of available
resources and competing budget demands.
Local Governments. The primary units of local government in California are
the counties, ranging in population from 1,200 in Alpine County to over
9,600,000 in Los Angeles County. Counties are responsible for the provision of
many basic services, including indigent health care, welfare, jails and public
safety in unincorporated areas. There are also about 470 incorporated cities,
and thousands of other special districts formed for education, utility and other
services. The fiscal condition of local governments has been constrained since
the enactment of "Proposition 13" in 1978, which reduced and limited the future
growth of property taxes, and limited the ability of local governments to impose
"special taxes" (those devoted to a specific purpose) without two-thirds voter
approval. Counties, in particular, have had fewer options to raise revenues than
many other local government entities, and have been required to maintain many
services.
In the aftermath of Proposition 13, the State provided aid to local
governments from the General Fund to make up some of the loss of property tax
moneys, including taking over the principal responsibility for funding K-12
schools and community colleges. During the recession, the Legislature eliminated
most of the remaining components of post-Proposition 13 aid to local government
entities other than K-14 education districts by requiring cities and counties to
transfer some of their property tax revenues to school districts. However, the
Legislature also provided additional funding sources (such as sales taxes) and
reduced certain mandates for local services. Since then the State has also
provided additional funding to counties and cities through such programs as
health and welfare realignment, welfare reform, trial court restructuring, the
COPs program supporting local public safety departments, and various other
measures. In his 1999-00 Budget Proposal, the Governor has proposed a review and
"accounting" of state-local fiscal relationships, with the goal of ultimately
restoring local government finances to an equivalent fiscal condition to the
period prior to the 1991-93 recession-induced tax shifts. Litigation has been
brought challenging the legality of the property tax shifts from counties to
schools. See "Litigation" below.
Historically, funding for the State's trial court system was divided
between the State and the counties. However, Chapter 850, Statutes of 1997,
implemented a restructuring of the State's trial court funding system. Funding
for the courts, with the exception of costs for facilities, local judicial
benefits, and revenue collection, was consolidated at the State level. The
county contribution for both their general fund and fine and penalty amounts is
capped at the 1994-95 level and becomes part of the Trial Court Trust Fund,
which supports all trial court operations. The State assumed responsibility for
future growth in trial court funding. The consolidation of funding is intended
to streamline the operation of the courts, provide a dedicated revenue source,
and relieve fiscal pressure on the counties. Beginning in 1998-99, the county
general fund contribution for court operations is reduced by $300 million, and
cities will retain $62 million in fine and penalty revenue previously remitted
to the State; the General Fund reimbursed the $362 million revenue loss to the
Trial Court Trust Fund. The 1999-00 Governor's Budget would further reduce the
county general fund contribution by an additional $48 million to reduce by 50
percent the contributions of the next 18 smallest counties and reduce by 5
percent the general fund contribution of the remaining 21 counties.
The entire statewide welfare system has been changed in response to the
change in federal welfare law enacted in 1996 (see "Welfare Reform" above).
Under the CalWORKs program, counties are given flexibility to develop their own
plans, consistent with state law, to implement the program and to administer
many of its elements, and their costs for administrative and supportive services
are capped at the 1996-97 levels. Counties are also given financial incentives
if, at the individual county level or statewide, the CalWORKs program produces
savings associated with specified standards. Counties will still be required to
provide "general assistance" aid to certain persons who cannot obtain welfare
from other programs.
In 1996, voters approved Proposition 218, entitled the "Right to Vote on
Taxes Act," which incorporates new Articles XIII C and XIII D into the
California Constitution. These new provisions place limitations on the ability
of local government agencies to impose or raise various taxes, fees, charges and
assessments without voter approval. Certain "general taxes" imposed after
January 1, 1995, must be approved by voters in order to remain in effect. In
addition, Article XIIIC clarifies the right of local voters to reduce taxes,
fees, assessments or charges through local initiatives. There are a number of
ambiguities concerning the Proposition and its impact on local governments and
their bonded debt which will require interpretation by the courts or the
Legislature. Proposition 218 does not affect the State or its ability to levy or
collect taxes.
State Appropriations Limit. The State is subject to an annual
appropriations limit imposed by Article XIII B of the State Constitution (the
"Appropriations Limit"). The Appropriations Limit does not restrict
appropriations to pay debt service on voter-authorized bonds.
Article XIII B prohibits the State from spending "appropriations subject
to limitation" in excess of the Appropriations Limit. "Appropriations subject to
limitation," with respect to the State, are authorizations to spend "proceeds of
taxes," which consist of tax revenues, and certain other funds, including
proceeds from regulatory licenses, user charges or other fees to the extent that
such proceeds exceed "the cost reasonably borne by that entity in providing the
regulation, product or service," but "proceeds of taxes" exclude most state
subventions to local governments, tax refunds and some benefit payments such as
unemployment insurance. No limit is imposed on appropriations of funds which are
not "proceeds of taxes," such as reasonable user charges or fees and certain
other non-tax funds.
Not included in the Appropriations Limit are appropriations for the debt
service costs of bonds existing or authorized by January 1, 1979, or
subsequently authorized by the voters, appropriations required to comply with
mandates of courts or the federal government, appropriations for qualified
capital outlay projects, appropriations of revenues derived from any increase in
gasoline taxes and motor vehicle weight fees above January 1, 1990 levels, and
appropriation of certain special taxes imposed by initiative (e.g., cigarette
and tobacco taxes). The Appropriations Limit may also be exceeded in cases of
emergency.
The State's Appropriations Limit in each year is based on the limit for
the prior year, adjusted annually for changes in state per capita personal
income and changes in population, and adjusted, when applicable, for any
transfer of financial responsibility of providing services to or from another
unit of government or any transfer of the financial source for the provisions of
services from tax proceeds to non tax proceeds. The measurement of change in
population is a blended average of statewide overall population growth, and
change in attendance at K-14 districts. The Appropriations Limit is tested over
consecutive two-year periods. Any excess of the aggregate "proceeds of taxes"
received over such two-year period above the combined Appropriations Limits for
those two years is divided equally between transfers to K-14 districts and
refunds to taxpayers.
The Legislature has enacted legislation to implement Article XIII B which
defines certain terms used in Article XIII B and sets forth the methods for
determining the Appropriations Limit. California Government Code Section 7912
requires an estimate of the Appropriations Limit to be included in the
Governor's Budget, and thereafter to be subject to the budget process and
established in the Budget Act.
The following table shows the State's Appropriations Limit for the past
three fiscal years, the current fiscal year, and the next fiscal year. In the
Governor's Budget for Fiscal Year 1999-00 proposed on January 8, 1999, the
Department of Finance projects the State's Appropriations Subject to Limitations
will be $7.1 billion under the State's Appropriations Limit in Fiscal Year
1999-00.
State Appropriations Limit
(Millions)
Fiscal Years
- -----------------------------
1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99* 1999-00*
- -----------------------------
- -----------------------------
State Appropriations Limit $39,309 $42,002 $44,778 $47,573 $50,052
- -----------------------------
Appropriations Subject to (34,186) (35,103) (40,735) (40,797) 42,926)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Limit
- -----------------------------
- -----------------------------
Amount (Over)/Under Limit $5,123 $6,899 $4,043 $6,776 $7,126
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
*Estimated/Projected
SOURCE: State of California, Department of Finance.
Proposition 98. On November 8, 1988, voters of the State approved
Proposition 98, a combined initiative constitutional amendment and statute
called the "Classroom Instructional Improvement and Accountability Act."
Proposition 98 changed State funding of public education below the university
level and the operation of the State Appropriations Limit, primarily by
guaranteeing K-14 schools a minimum share of General Fund revenues. Under
Proposition 98 (as modified by Proposition 111, which was enacted on June 5,
1990), K-14 schools are guaranteed the greater of (a) in general, a fixed
percent of General Fund revenues ("Test 1"), (b) the amount appropriated to K-14
schools in the prior year, adjusted for changes in the cost of living (measured
as in Article XIII B by reference to State per capita personal income) and
enrollment ("Test 2"), or (c) a third test, which would replace Test 2 in any
year when the percentage growth in per capita General Fund revenues from the
prior year plus one half of one percent is less than the percentage growth in
State per capita personal income ("Test 3"). Under Test 3, schools would receive
the amount appropriated in the prior year adjusted for changes in enrollment and
per capita General Fund revenues, plus an additional small adjustment factor. If
Test 3 is used in any year, the difference between Test 3 and Test 2 would
become a "credit" to schools which would be the basis of payments in future
years when per capita General Fund revenue growth exceeds per capita personal
income growth. Legislation adopted prior to the end of the 1988-89 Fiscal Year,
implementing Proposition 98, determined the K-14 schools' funding guarantee
under Test 1 to be 40.3 percent of the General Fund tax revenues, based on
1986-87 appropriations. However, that percent has been adjusted to approximately
35 percent to account for a subsequent redirection of local property taxes,
since such redirection directly affects the share of General Fund revenues to
schools.
Proposition 98 permits the Legislature by two-thirds vote of both houses,
with the Governor's concurrence, to suspend the K-14 schools' minimum funding
formula for a one-year period. Proposition 98 also contains provisions
transferring certain State tax revenues in excess of the Article XIII B limit to
K-14 schools. See "State Finances--State Appropriations Limit" above.
During the recession in the early 1990s, General Fund revenues for
several years were less than originally projected, so that the original
Proposition 98 appropriations turned out to be higher than the minimum
percentage provided in the law. The Legislature responded to these developments
by designating the "extra" Proposition 98 payments in one year as a "loan" from
future years' Proposition 98 entitlements, and also intended that the "extra"
payments would not be included in the Proposition 98 "base" for calculating
future years' entitlements. By implementing these actions, per-pupil funding
from Proposition 98 sources stayed almost constant at approximately $4,200 from
Fiscal Year 1991-92 to Fiscal Year 1993-94.
In 1992, a lawsuit was filed, called California Teachers' Association v.
Gould, which challenged the validity of these off-budget loans. The settlement
of this case, finalized in July, 1996, provides, among other things, that both
the State and K-14 schools share in the repayment of prior years' emergency
loans to schools. Of the total $1.76 billion in loans, the State will repay $935
million by forgiveness of the amount owed, while schools will repay $825
million. The State share of the repayment will be reflected as an appropriation
above the current Proposition 98 base calculation. The schools' share of the
repayment will count as appropriations that count toward satisfying the
Proposition 98 guarantee, or from "below" the current base. Repayments are
spread over the eight-year period of 1994-95 through 2001-02 to mitigate any
adverse fiscal impact.
Substantially increased General Fund revenues, above initial budget
projections, in the fiscal years 1994-95 through 1998-99 have resulted in
retroactive increases in Proposition 98 appropriations from subsequent fiscal
years' budgets. Because of the State's increasing revenues, per-pupil funding at
the K-12 level has increased by about 42 percent from the level in place from
1991-92 through 1993-94, and is estimated at about $5,944 per ADA in 1999-00. A
significant amount of the "extra" Proposition 98 monies in the last few years
have been allocated to special programs, most particularly an initiative to
allow each classroom from grades K-3 to have no more than 20 pupils by the end
of the 1997-98 school year. Although General Fund revenue growth is expected to
slow in 1999-00, there are also new initiatives proposed to improve pupil
reading skills, to enhance teacher quality, and to increase school
accountability. See "Current State Budget" for further discussion of education
funding.
State Indebtedness
General. The State Treasurer is responsible for the sale of debt
obligations of the State and its various authorities and agencies. The State has
always paid the principal of and interest on its general obligation bonds,
general obligation commercial paper, lease-purchase debt and short-term
obligations, including revenue anticipation notes and revenue anticipation
warrants, when due.
Capital Facilities Financing.
General Obligation Bonds. The State Constitution prohibits the creation
of general obligation indebtedness of the State unless a bond law is approved by
a majority of the electorate voting at a general election or a direct primary.
General obligation bond acts provide that debt service on general obligation
bonds shall be appropriated annually from the General Fund and all debt service
on general obligation bonds is paid from the General Fund. Under the State
Constitution, debt service on general obligation bonds is the second charge to
the General Fund after the application of moneys in the General Fund to the
support of the public school system and public institutions of higher education.
Certain general obligation bond programs receive revenues from sources other
than the sale of bonds or the investment of bond proceeds.
As of February 1, 1999, the State had outstanding $19,184,961,000
aggregate principal amount of long-term general obligation bonds, and unused
voter authorizations for the future issuance of $14,326,874,000 of long-term
general obligation bonds. This latter figure consists of $3,566,744,000 of
authorized commercial paper notes, described below (of which $484,250,000 had
been issued), which had not yet been refunded by general obligation bonds, and
$10,760,130,000 of other authorized but unissued general obligation debt.
At the November 3, 1998 election, voters approved a bond measure
("Proposition 1A") totaling $9.2 billion for public school construction and
renovation, and for higher education facilities. Not more than half the total
bond authorization from Proposition 1A can be issued (including bonds in the
form of commercial paper) before June 30, 2000. Proposition 1A also encourages
the Treasurer to sell the bonds in a manner such that the ratio of State debt
service to General Fund revenue does not exceed 6 percent.
Commercial Paper Program. Pursuant to legislation enacted in 1995, voter
approved general obligation indebtedness may be issued either as long-term
bonds, or, for some but not all bond acts, as commercial paper notes. Commercial
paper notes may be renewed or may be refunded by the issuance of long-term
bonds. The State intends to issue long-term general obligation bonds from time
to time to retire its general obligation commercial paper notes. Pursuant to the
terms of the bank credit agreement presently in effect supporting the general
obligation commercial paper program, not more than $2.0 billion of general
obligation commercial paper notes may be outstanding at any time; this amount
may be increased or decreased in the future. Commercial paper notes are deemed
issued upon authorization by the respective Finance Committees, whether or not
such notes are actually issued. As of February 1, 1999, the Finance Committees
had authorized the issuance of up to $3,566,744,000 of commercial paper notes;
as of that date $484,250,000 aggregate principal amount of general obligation
commercial paper notes was actually issued and outstanding.
Lease-Purchase Debt. In addition to general obligation bonds, the State
builds and acquires capital facilities through the use of lease-purchase
borrowing. Under these arrangements, the State Public Works Board, another State
or local agency or a joint powers authority issues bonds to pay for the
construction of facilities such as office buildings, university buildings or
correctional institutions. These facilities are leased to a State agency or the
University of California under a long-term lease which provides the source of
payment of the debt service on the lease-purchase bonds. In some cases, there is
not a separate bond issue, but a trustee directly creates certificates of
participation in the State's lease obligation, which are marketed to investors.
Under applicable court decisions, such lease arrangements do not constitute the
creation of "indebtedness" within the meaning of the Constitutional provisions
which require voter approval. For purposes of this section, "lease-purchase
debt" or "lease-purchase financing" means principally bonds or certificates of
participation for capital facilities where the rental payments providing the
security are a direct or indirect charge against the General Fund and also
includes revenue bonds for a State energy efficiency program secured by payments
made by various State agencies under energy service contracts. Certain of the
lease-purchase financings are supported by special funds rather than the General
Fund. The State had $6,689,709,397 General Fund-supported lease-purchase debt
outstanding at February 1, 1999. The State Public Works Board, which is
authorized to sell lease revenue bonds, had $1,594,712,000 authorized and
unissued as of February 1, 1999. Also, as of that date certain joint powers
authorities were authorized to issue approximately $69,500,000 of revenue bonds
to be secured by State leases.
Non-Recourse Debt. Certain State agencies and authorities issue revenue
obligations for which the General Fund has no liability. Revenue bonds represent
obligations payable from State revenue-producing enterprises and projects, which
are not payable from the General Fund, and conduit obligations payable only from
revenues paid by private users of facilities financed by the revenue bonds. The
enterprises and projects include transportation projects, various public works
projects, public and private educational facilities (including the California
State University and University of California systems), housing, health
facilities and pollution control facilities. There are 17 agencies and
authorities authorized to issue revenue obligations (excluding lease-purchase
debt). State agencies and authorities had $25,463,613,639 aggregate principal
amount of revenue bonds and notes which are non-recourse to the General Fund
outstanding as of December 31, 1998.
Cash Flow Borrowings. As part of its cash management program, the State
has regularly issued short-term obligations to meet cash flow needs. The
following table shows the amount of revenue anticipation notes ("Notes") and
revenue anticipation warrants ("Warrants") issued over the past five fiscal
years. Between spring 1992 and summer 1994, the State had depended upon external
borrowing, including borrowings extending into the subsequent fiscal year, to
meet its cash needs, including repayment of maturing Notes and Warrants. The
State has not had to resort to such cross-year borrowing after the 1994-95
Fiscal Year.
The State issued $1.7 billion of revenue anticipation notes for the
1998-99 Fiscal Year to mature on June 30, 1999. The Governor's Proposed Budget
anticipates the issuance of $2.5 billion of revenue anticipation notes for the
1999-00 Fiscal Year.
State of California
Revenue Anticipation Notes and Warrants Issued
Fiscal Years 1994-95 to 1998-99
Principal
Fiscal Amount Date of Maturity
Year Type (Billions) Issue Date
1994-1995 Warrants Series C-D $4.0 July 26, 1994 April 25, 1996
Notes Series A-C 3.0 August 3, 1994 June 28, 1995
1995-1996 Notes 2.0 April 25, 1996 June 28, 1996
1996-1997 Notes Series A-C 3.0 August 6, 1996 June 30, 1997
1997-1998 Notes 3.0 September 9, 1997 June 30, 1998
1998-1999 Notes 1.7 October 1, 1998 June 30, 1999
SOURCE: State of California, Office of the Treasurer.
Prior Fiscal Years' Financial Results
Fiscal Years Prior to 1995-96. Pressures on the State's budget in the late
1980's and early 1990's were caused by a combination of external economic
conditions (including a recession which began in 1990) and growth of the largest
General Fund Programs--K-14 education, health, welfare and corrections --at
rates faster than the revenue base. During this period, expenditures exceeded
revenues in four out of six years up to 1992-93, and the State accumulated and
sustained a budget deficit approaching $2.8 billion at its peak at June 30,
1993. Between the 1991-92 and 1994-95 Fiscal Years, each budget required
multibillion dollar actions to bring projected revenues and expenditures into
balance, including significant cuts in health and welfare program expenditures;
transfers of program responsibilities and funding from the State to local
governments; transfer of about $3.6 billion in annual local property tax
revenues from other local governments to local school districts, thereby
reducing state funding for schools under Proposition 98; and revenue increases
(particularly in the 1991-92 Fiscal Year budget), most of which were for a short
duration.
Despite these budget actions, the effects of the recession led to large,
unanticipated budget deficits. By the 1993-94 Fiscal Year, the accumulated
deficit was so large that it was impractical to budget to retire it in one year,
so a two-year program was implemented, using the issuance of revenue
anticipation warrants to carry a portion of the deficit over the end of the
fiscal year. When the economy failed to recover sufficiently in 1993-94, a
second two-year plan was implemented in 1994-95, again using cross-fiscal year
revenue anticipation warrants to partly finance the deficit into the 1995-96
fiscal year. See "State Indebtedness--Cash Flow Borrowings" above.
Another consequence of the accumulated budget deficits, together with
other factors such as disbursement of funds to local school districts "borrowed"
from future fiscal years and hence not shown in the annual budget, was to
significantly reduce the State's cash resources available to pay its ongoing
obligations. When the Legislature and the Governor failed to adopt a budget for
the 1992-93 Fiscal Year by July 1, 1992, which would have allowed the State to
carry out its normal annual cash flow borrowing to replenish its cash reserves,
the State Controller issued registered warrants to pay a variety of obligations
representing prior years' or continuing appropriations, and mandates from court
orders. Available funds were used to make constitutionally-mandated payments,
such as debt service on bonds and warrants. Between July 1 and September 4,
1992, when the budget was adopted, the State Controller issued a total of
approximately $3.8 billion of registered warrants.
For several fiscal years during the recession, the State was forced to
rely on external debt markets to meet its cash needs, as a succession of notes
and revenue anticipation warrants, often needed to pay previously maturing notes
or warrants, were issued in the period from June 1992 to July 1994. These
borrowings were used also in part to spread out the repayment of the accumulated
budget deficit over the end of a fiscal year, as noted earlier. The last and
largest of these borrowings was $4.0 billion of revenue anticipation warrants
which were issued in July, 1994 and matured on April 25, 1996. See "State
Indebtedness--Cash Flow Borrowings" above.
1995-96 through 1997-98 Fiscal Years. The State's financial condition
improved markedly during the 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 fiscal years, with a
combination of better than expected revenues, slowdown in growth of social
welfare programs, and continued spending restraint based on the actions taken in
earlier years. The State's cash position also improved, and no external deficit
borrowing has occurred over the end of these three fiscal years.
The economy grew strongly during these fiscal years, and as a result, the
General Fund took in substantially greater tax revenues (around $2.2 billion in
1995-96, $1.6 billion in 1996-97 and $2.4 billion in 1997-98) than were
initially planned when the budgets were enacted. These additional funds were
largely directed to school spending as mandated by Proposition 98, and to make
up shortfalls from reduced federal health and welfare aid in 1995-96 and
1996-97. The accumulated budget deficit from the recession years was finally
eliminated.
The following were major features of the 1997-98 Budget Act:
1. For the second year in a row, the Budget contained a large increase in
funding for K-14 education under Proposition 98, reflecting strong revenues
which exceeded initial budgeted amounts. Part of the nearly $1.75 billion in
increased spending was allocated to prior fiscal years. Funds were provided to
fully pay for the cost-of-living-increase component of Proposition 98, and to
extend the class size reduction and reading initiatives. See "State
Finances--Proposition 98" above.
2. The Budget Act reflected payment of $1.228 billion to satisfy a court
judgment in a lawsuit regarding payments to the State pension fund, and brought
funding of the State's pension contribution back to the quarterly basis which
existed prior to the deferral actions which were invalidated by the courts.
3. Funding from the General Fund for the University of California and
California State University was increased by about 6 percent ($121 million and
$107 million, respectively), and there was no increase in student fees.
4. Because of the effect of the pension payment, most other State
programs were continued at 1996-97 levels, adjusted for caseload changes.
5. Health and welfare costs were contained, continuing generally the
grant levels from prior years, as part of the initial implementation of the new
CalWORKs program.
6. Unlike prior years, this Budget Act did not depend on uncertain
federal budget actions. About $300 million in federal funds, already included in
the federal fiscal year 1997 and 1998 budgets, was included in the Budget Act,
to offset incarceration costs for illegal aliens.
7. The Budget Act contained no tax increases, and no tax reductions. The
Renters Tax Credit was suspended for another year, saving approximately $500
million.
Current State Budget
1998-99 Fiscal Year Budget. When the Governor released his proposed
1998-99 Fiscal Year Budget on January 9, 1998, he projected General Fund
revenues for the 1998-99 Fiscal Year of $55.4 billion, and proposed expenditures
in the same amount. By the time the Governor released the May Revision to the
1998-99 Budget ("May Revision") on May 14, 1998, the Administration projected
that revenues for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 Fiscal Years combined would be more
than $4.2 billion higher than was projected in January. The Governor proposed
that most of this increased revenue be dedicated to fund a 75 percent cut in the
Vehicle License Fee ("VLF").
The Legislature passed the 1998-99 Budget Bill on August 11, 1998, and the
Governor signed it on August 21, 1998. Some 33 companion bills necessary to
implement the budget were also signed. In signing the Budget Bill, the Governor
used his line-item veto power to reduce expenditures by $1.360 billion from the
General Fund, and $160 million from special funds. Of this total, the Governor
indicated that about $250 million of vetoed funds were "set aside" to fund
programs for education. Vetoed items included education funds, salary increases
and many individual resources and capital projects.
The 1998-99 Budget Act was based on projected General Fund revenues and
transfers of $57.0 billion (after giving effect to various tax reductions
enacted in 1997 and 1998), a 4.2 percent increase from the then revised 1997-98
figures. Special Fund revenues were estimated at $14.3 billion. The revenue
projections were based on the May Revision. Economic problems overseas since
that time may affect the May Revision projections.
After giving effect to the Governor's vetoes, the Budget Act provided
authority for expenditures of $57.3 billion from the General Fund (a 7.3 percent
increase from 1997-98), $14.7 billion from Special Funds, and $3.4 billion from
bond funds. The Budget Act projected a balance in the SFEU at June 30, 1999 (but
without including the "set aside" veto amount) of $1.255 billion, a little more
than 2 percent of General Fund revenues. The Budget Act assumed the State will
carry out its normal intra-year cash flow borrowing in the amount of $1.7
billion of revenue anticipation notes, which were issued on October 1, 1998.
Revenues and expenditures for 1998-99 as updated in the 1999-00
Governor's Budget are $56.3 billion and $58.3 billion, respectively. As a
result, the projected balance in the SFEU at June 30, 1999 has been reduced to
$617 million. See "Proposed 1999-00 Budget" below for discussion of more recent
revenue estimates from the Legislative Analyst's Office.
The most significant feature of the 1998-99 budget was agreement on a
total of $1.4 billion of tax cuts. The central element is a bill which provides
for a phased-in reduction of the VLF. Since the VLF is currently transferred to
cities and counties, the bill provides for the General Fund to replace the lost
revenues. Started on January 1, 1999, the VLF has been reduced by 25 percent, at
a cost to the General Fund of approximately $500 million in the 1998-99 Fiscal
Year and about $1 billion annually thereafter.
In addition to the cut in VLF, the 1998-99 budget includes both temporary
and permanent increase in the personal income tax dependent credit ($612 million
General Fund cost in 1998-99, but less in future years), a nonrefundable renters
tax credit ($133 million), and various targeted business tax credits ($106
million).
Other significant elements of the revised 1998-99 Budget are as follows:
1. Proposition 98 funding for K-12 schools is increased by $2.2 billion
in General Fund moneys over the latest revised 1997-98 levels, over $1 billion
higher than the minimum Proposition 98 guarantee. Of the 1998-99 funds, major
new programs include money for instructional and library materials, deferred
maintenance, support for increasing the school year to 180 days and reduction of
class sizes in Grade 9. Overall, per-pupil spending for K-12 schools under
Proposition 98 is increased to $5,752, which is $478 over the 1997-98 level. The
Budget also includes $250 million as repayment of prior years' loans to schools,
as part of the settlement of the CTA v. Gould lawsuit. See "State
Finances--Proposition 98" above.
2. Funding for higher education increased substantially above the actual
1997-98 level. General Fund support was increased by $339 million (15.6 percent)
for the University of California and $271 million (14.5 percent) for the
California State University system. In addition, General Fund support for
Community Colleges increased by $183 million (9.0 percent).
3. The Budget includes increased funding for health, welfare and social
services programs. A 4.9 percent grant increase was included in the basic
welfare grants, the first increase in those grants in 9 years. Future increases
will depend on sufficient General Fund revenue to trigger the phased cuts in VLF
described above.
4. Funding for the judiciary and criminal justice programs increased by
about 15 percent over 1997-98, primarily to reflect increased state support for
local trial courts and rising prison population.
5. Various other highlights of the revised Budget included new funding
for resources projects, dedication of $240 million of General Fund moneys for
capital outlay projects, funding of a state employee salary increase, funding of
2,000 new Department of Transportation positions to accelerate transportation
construction projects, and funding of the Infrastructure and Economic
Development Bank ($50 million).
6. The State of California received approximately $167 million of federal
reimbursements to offset costs related to the incarceration of undocumented
alien felons for federal fiscal year 1997. The state anticipates receiving
approximately $173 million in federal reimbursements for federal fiscal year
1998.
The revised 1998-99 budget as reported in the 1999-00 Governor's Budget,
also reflects the latest estimated costs or savings as provided in various
pieces of legislation passed and signed after the 1998 Budget Act. Major budget
items include costs for the All-American Canal, state's share of purchase of
Headwaters Forest, and additional funds for state prisons and juvenile
facilities. The revised budget reflects a $433 million reduction in the State's
obligation to contribute to the State Teachers' Retirement System ("STRS") in
1998-99.
Proposed 1999-00 Budget. On January 8, 1999, Governor Davis released his
proposed budget for Fiscal Year 19992000 (the "Governor's Budget"). The
Governor's Budget generally reported that General Fund revenues for FY 1998-99
and FY 1999-00 would be lower than earlier projections (primarily due to the
overseas economic downturn), while some caseloads would be higher than earlier
projections. The Governor's Budget was designed to meet ongoing caseloads and
basic inflation adjustments, and included certain new programs.
The Governor's Budget projects General Fund revenues and transfers in
1999-00 of $60.3 billion. This includes anticipated initial payments from the
tobacco litigation settlement of about $560 million, and receipt of one-time
revenue from sale of assets. The Governor also assumes receipt of about $400
million of federal aid for certain health and welfare programs and reimbursement
for costs for incarceration of undocumented felons, above the amount presently
received by California from the federal government. The Governor's Budget notes
that more accurate revenue estimates will be available in May and June before
adoption of the budget. Among other things, the amount of realized capital gains
for 1998 is still unknown, given the large fluctuations in the stock market last
year. The Governor has not proposed any tax cuts or increases.
The Governor's Budget proposes General Fund expenditures of $60.5
billion. The Governor's Budget gives highest priority to education, with
Proposition 98 funding increasing by almost 5 percent. The Governor proposed
certain new education initiatives focused on improving reading skills, teacher
quality and school accountability. The Governor proposed modest increase in
funding for higher education, and an 8 percent increase in SSP payments (a
State-funded welfare program), while assuming decreases in Medi-Cal and CaIWORKs
grant costs due to lowering caseloads. The Governor also proposes to reduce
expenditures by deferring certain previously budgeted expenditures totaling
about $170 million.
Based on the proposed revenues and expenditures, the Governor's Budget
projects the June 30, 2000 balance in the SFEU would drop to about $415 million.
On February 16, 1999, the Legislative Analyst released a report on the
1999-00 Governor's Budget (the "LAO Report"). The LAO Report was based in part
on actual revenues received in December, 1998 and January, 1999, which had not
been available when the Governor's Budget was prepared. These revenues were
higher than had been predicted in the Governor's Budget, apparently reflecting
stronger than expected economic activity in the nation and the State. The LAO
report projected that General Fund revenues in 1998-99 could be as much as $750
million higher than predicted in the Governor's Budget, and 1999-00 revenues
could be $550 million above the Governor's Budget.
The Governor's Budget includes a proposal to implement changes in law to
make "midcourse corrections" in the State's budget if ongoing revenues fall
short of projections during a fiscal year or expenditures increase
significantly. The proposals include two components: restoring authority for the
Director of Finance to reduce expenditures in certain circumstances, and an
automatic "trigger" mechanism which would produce spending cuts if certain
conditions were met. These proposals will require legislative action.
Economy and Population
Introduction. California's economy, the largest among the 50 states and
one of the largest in the world, has major components in high technology, trade,
entertainment, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction and services.
Since 1994, California's economy has been performing strongly after suffering a
deep recession between 1990-94.
Population and Labor Force. The State's July 1, 1997 population of over
32.9 million represented over 12 percent of the total United States population.
California's population is concentrated in metropolitan areas. As of the
April 1, 1990 census, 96 percent resided in the 23 Metropolitan Statistical
Areas in the State. As of July 1, 1997, the 5-county Los Angeles area accounted
for 49 percent of the State's population, with 16.0 million residents, and the
10-county San Francisco Bay Area represented 21 percent, with a population of
6.9 million.
The following table shows California's population data for 1993 through 1998.
<PAGE>
Population 1993-98
% Increase % Increase
Over Over California
California Preceding United Preceding as % of
States
Year Population(a) Year Population(a) Year United
States
1993 31,517,000 1.1 257,753,000 1.1 12.2
1994 31,790,000 0.9 260,292,000 1.0 12.2
1995 32,063,000 0.9 262,761,000 0.9 12.2
1996 32,383,000 1.0 265,179,000 0.9 12.2
1997 32,957,000 1.8 267,636,000 0.9 12.3
1998 33,494,000 1.6 270,029,000 0.9 12.4
- ----------------
(a) Population as of July 1.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census; State of
California, Department of Finance.
The following table presents civilian labor force data for the resident
population, age 16 and over, for the years 1992 to 1998.
Labor Force
1992-98
Labor Force Trends
(Thousands) ---------------------------
Unemployment Rate (%)
Labor United
- ---------------
Year Force Employment California States
- ---------------
1992 15,404 13,973 9.3 7.5
- ---------------
1993 15,359 13,918 9.4 6.9
- ---------------
1994 15,450 14,122 8.6 6.1
- ---------------
1995 15,412 14,203 7.8 5.6
- ---------------
1996 15,568 14,444 7.2 5.4
- ---------------
1997 15,971 14,965 6.3 4.9
- ---------------
1998 p/ 16,260 15,302 5.9 4.5
- ------------------
p/ Preliminary
SOURCE: State of California, Employment Development Department.
Employment, Income, Construction and Export Growth. The following
table shows California's nonagricultural employment distribution and growth
for 1990 and 1998.
Payroll Employment By Major Sector
1990 and 1998
Employment % Distribution
(Thousands) ----------------------
of Employment
Industry Sector 1990 1998 1990 1998
--------------- ---- ---- ---- ----
Mining ......................... 39 29 0.3 0.2
Construction.................... 605 605 4.8 4.5
Manufacturing...................
Nondurable Goods.......... 721 739 5.7 5.4
High Technology........... 686 520 5.4 3.8
Other Durable Goods....... 690 683 5.4 5.0
Transportation and Utilities... 624 680 4.9 5.0
Wholesale and Retail Trade...... 3,002 3,129 23.7 23.0
Finance, Insurance
and Real Estate........... 825 781 6.5 5.7
Services........................ 3,395 4,234 26.8 31.2
Government......................
Federal................... 362 279 2.9 2.1
State and Local........... 1,713 1,906 13.5 14.0
----- ----- ---- ----
TOTAL
NONAGRICULTURAL........... 12,662 13,586 100 100
====== ====== === ===
- --------------------
SOURCE: State of California, Employment Development Department and State of
California, Department of Finance.
The following tables show California's total and per capita income
patterns for selected years.
Total Personal Income 1992-97
California
California
- ----------
% of
- ----------
Year Millions % Change U.S.
- ----------
1992 684,674 4.8* 13.1
- ----------
1993 698,130 2.0 12.8
- ----------
1994 a 718,321 2.9 12.5
- ----------
1995 754,269 5.0 12.4
- ----------
1996 798,020 5.8 12.5
- ----------
1997 846,017 6.0 12.5
- ----------------------
* Change from prior year.
a Reflects Northridge earthquake, which caused an estimated $15 billion drop in
personal income.
Note: Omits income for government employees overseas.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Per Capita Personal Income 1992-97
California
United % of
Year California % Change States % Change U.S.
---- ---------- -------- ------ -------- ----
1992 22,163 3.2* 20,546 4.7* 107.9
1993 22,388 1.0 21,220 3.3 105.5
1994a 22,899 2.3 22,056 3.9 103.8
1995 23,901 4.4 23,063 4.6 103.6
1996 25,050 4.8 24,169 4.8 103.6
1997 26,218 4.7 25,298 4.7 103.6
- -----------------------
* Change from prior year
a Reflects Northridge earthquake, which caused an estimated $15 billion drop in
personal income.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Employee Relations. In 1998-99, the state work force is estimated to be
comprised of approximately 290,000 personnel years. Of this total, approximately
90,000 personnel years represent employees of institutions of higher education.
Civil service employees who are subject to collective bargaining represent
approximately 147,000 personnel years. The California State Employees'
Association (CSEA), represents 9 of the 21 collective bargaining units, or
approximately 52 percent of those employees subject to collective bargaining.
The Ralph C. Dills Act provides that state employees, defined as any
civil service employee of the State and teachers under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Education or the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and
excluding certain other categories, have a right to form, join, and participate
in the activities of employee organizations for the purpose of representation on
all matters of employer-employee relations. Law enforcement employees have the
right to be represented separately from other employees. The chosen employee
organization has the fight to represent its members, except that once an
employee organization is recognized as the exclusive representative of a
bargaining unit, only that organization may represent employees in that unit.
The scope of representation is limited to wages, hours, and other terms
and conditions of employment. Representatives of the Governor are required to
meet and confer in good faith and endeavor to reach agreement with the employee
organization, and, if agreement is reached, to prepare a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) and present it to the Legislature for ratification. The
Governor and the recognized employee organization are authorized to agree
mutually on the appointment of a mediator for the purpose of settling any
disputes between the parties, or either party could request the Public
Employment Relations Board to appoint a mediator.
As of mid-March 1999, for 1998-99, all twenty-one collective bargaining
units have reached agreement with the State. Five have ratified Memorandums of
Understanding (MOU) which will expire on June 30, 1999, and the other sixteen
MOUs are pending Legislative and union members' ratification. The State has not
experienced a major work stoppage in the last 23 years.
Employees' Retirement Systems. The two largest retirement benefit programs
administered by the State are the Public Employees' Retirement System ("PERS")
and the STRS. PERS had assets with a market value of $139.7 billion as of
October 31, 1998, a decrease of $3.6 billion from June 30, 1998. STRS had assets
with a market value in excess of $88.3 billion as of June 30, 1998, an increase
of $13.5 billion from June 30, 1997.
Information Technology. The State's reliance on information technology in
every aspect of its operations has made Year 2000-related ("Y2K") information
technology ("IT") issues a high priority for the State. The Department of
Information Technology ("DOIT"), an independent office reporting directly to the
Governor, is responsible for ensuring the State's information technology
processes are fully functional before the year 2000. The DOIT has created a Year
2000 Task Force and a California 2000 Office to establish statewide policy
requirements; to gather, coordinate, and share information; and to monitor
statewide progress. In December 1996, the DOIT began requiring departments to
report on Y2K activities and currently requires departmental monthly reporting
of Y2K status. The DOIT has emphasized to departments that efforts should be
focused on applications that support mission-critical business practices.
The risks posed by Y2K information technology related issues are not
confined to computer systems, but also include problems presented by embedded
microchips (products or systems that contain microchips to perform functions
such as traffic control, instruments used in hospitals or medical laboratories,
and California aqueduct monitoring). To address these problems, the Governor
issued Executive Order W-163-97, broadening the responsibilities of the DOIT to
resolve these issues as well as legal questions associated with Y2K issues. The
executive order also required that mission critical systems be remediated by
December 31, 1998, that purchases of new systems, hardware, software and
equipment be Year 2000 compliant and further limited new computer projects to
those required by law until a department's Y2K problems are resolved. The DOIT
has also more recently required departments to address interfacing of State IT
systems with external IT systems, and to report on contingency planning status
for problems which might occur if IT systems are not fully remediated by the end
of 1999.
In its quarterly report for the period ending December 31, 1998, ("January
Quarterly Report") the DOIT unveiled the new administration's strategy for
addressing Y2K issues. The key components of this strategy include
centralization and coordination of the State's Y2K efforts, delivery of
essential services and emergency preparedness, elimination of obstacles and
barriers in an effort to streamline the current funding request process, and
broad-based collaboration across public and private sectors through a
comprehensive communication plan. Departments, programs and systems will be
categorized by tier according to the amount of assistance required to become Y2K
compliant. The first tier, which consists of departments that are of no specific
cause of concern, will be required to report their status and may be subject to
independent review. The second tier consists of departments that require
targeted assistance. The California 2000 Project Office will deploy an action
team to provide the necessary assistance. The third tier consists of seriously
troubled departments where the California Year 2000 Project Office will assume
Y2K management responsibility.
In addition to setting forth a new action plan, the January Quarterly
Report updated the survey of State departments and reported that of a total of
about 564 mission critical IT systems, 372 had completed remediation. Of the
remaining 192 systems, 54 systems are scheduled to be retired and 138 are in the
process of being remediated. The January Quarterly Report also updated the
status of embedded systems, noting that State entities have not yet reported on
all facilities nor have they completed the survey of all of their facilities. Of
the 606 facilities that were reported, remediation has been completed in 52
facilities.
In the January Quarterly Report, the DOIT estimates total Y2K costs
identified by the departments under its supervision at about $342 million, of
which more than $200 million was projected to be expended in fiscal years
1998-1999 and 1999-2000. These costs are part of much larger overall IT costs
incurred annually by the State, including costs incurred by certain independent
State entities, such as the judiciary, the Legislature, the University of
California and California State University System. Furthermore, cost estimates
for embedded systems only apply to the subset of embedded systems posing the
highest risk to essential programs. For fiscal year 1998-99, the Legislature
created a $20 million fund for unanticipated Y2K costs, which can be increased
if necessary.
On February 18, 1999, the Bureau of State Audits (the "BSA") presented
its report concerning state agencies' progress in resolving Y2K problems. The
report highlighted the following issues: remediation efforts at 14 agencies that
it identified as critical; the status of Y2K compliance for other State
programs; deficiencies in Y2K planning at one of the primary data centers for
the State; and coordination among public and private entities to ensure
uninterrupted service of essential utilities.
The BSA indicated that each of the 14 agencies identified as
administering programs critical to the State has appointed a Y2K project
manager, developed an overall Y2K plan and is actively working to complete
planned tasks. However, the report further noted that although state agencies
are making progress toward correcting critical computer systems, remediation
efforts at 11 of these agencies are not complete. The report defined completion
as including three key steps: completion of all planned testing, removal of
threats from embedded technology, and resolution of potential problems caused by
data exchange partners. None of these 11 agencies have fully tested the systems
reviewed, which industry experts consider to be the most crucial and
time-consuming phase. Furthermore, seven agencies have not yet replaced or
corrected embedded microchips in equipment their systems rely upon.
As part of the audit, the BSA also surveyed all 140 agencies, which
administer 462 separate budgetary programs, listed in the Governor's Budget.
Although the BSA does not consider all of these programs to be as critical as
those administered by the 14 agencies it reviewed, the BSA has similar concerns
about testing, embedded technology and coordination with data exchange partners.
The report also contained certain recommendations for one of the State's two
primary data centers to enhance their Y2K efforts. Finally, the BSA noted that
no single entity is charged with overseeing the Y2K preparedness of all
utilities in California and recommended that the Governor or Legislature should
designate one representative or agency to assess and disclose the Y2K readiness
of critical public utilities.
The State Treasurer's Office reports that as of December 31, 1998, its
systems for bond payments were fully Y2K compliant. The State Controller's
Office reported that it had completed the necessary Y2K remediation projects for
the State fiscal and accounting system by December 31, 1998, consistent with the
Governor's Executive Order. The final steps of testing will be completed during
1999. Both offices are actively working with the outside entities with whom they
interface to ensure that they are also compliant.
In sum, although substantial progress has been made toward the goal of
Y2K compliance, the task is very large and will likely encounter unexpected
difficulties. The State cannot predict whether all mission critical systems will
be ready and tested by late 1999 or what the impact failure of any particular IT
system(s) or of outside interfaces with IT systems might have.
Litigation
On December 24, 1997, a consortium of California counties filed a test
claim with the Commission on State Mandates (the "Commission") asking the
Commission to determine whether the property tax shift from counties to school
districts beginning in 1993-94, is a reimbursable state mandated cost. See
"State Finances--Local Government" above. The test claim was heard on October
29, 1998, and the Commission on State Mandates found in favor of the State. In
March, 1999, Sonoma County filed suit in the Superior Court to overturn the
Commission's decision. The State is contesting this lawsuit. Should the courts
find in favor of the counties, the impact to the State General Fund could be as
high as $10.0 billion with an annual Proposition 98 General Fund cost of at
least $3.6 billion. This cost would grow in accordance with the annual assessed
value growth rate.
In Professional Engineers in California Government v. Wilson, the Superior
Court ruled in December 1998 that $30.7 million of the $258.2 million
transferred from the State Highway Account to the General Fund violated the
California Constitution. The court also invalidated $130.9 million transferred
from the Motor Vehicle Account to the General Fund. The court ordered further
briefing on the $130 million transfer from the State Highway Account to the
Motor Vehicle Account. A hearing on this transfer is scheduled for April 1999.
No decision has been made as to whether an appeal will be taken from the court's
ruling.
On June 24, 1998, plaintiffs in Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association et al.
v Kathleen Connell filed a complaint for certain declaratory and injunctive
relief challenging the authority of the State Controller to make payments from
the State Treasury in the absence of a state budget. On July 21, 1998, the trial
court issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the State Controller from
paying moneys from the State Treasury for fiscal year 1998-99, with certain
limited exceptions, in the absence of a state budget. The preliminary
injunction, among other things, prohibited the State Controller from making any
payments pursuant to any continuing appropriation.
On July 22 and 27, 1998, various employee unions which had intervened in
the case appealed the trial court's preliminary injunction and asked the Court
of Appeal to stay the preliminary injunction. On July 28, 1998, the Court of
Appeal granted the unions' requests and stayed the preliminary injunction
pending the Court of Appeal's decision on the merits of the appeal. On August 5,
1998, the Court of Appeal denied the plaintiffs' request to reconsider the stay.
Also on July 22, 1998, the State Controller asked the California Supreme Court
to immediately stay the trial court's preliminary injunction and to overrule the
order granting the preliminary injunction on the merits. On July 29, 1998, the
Supreme Court transferred the State Controller's request to the Court of Appeal.
The matters are now pending before the Court of Appeal. Briefs are being
submitted; no date has yet been set for oral argument.
In Thomas Hayes v. Commission on State Mandates, the Commission on State
Mandates issued a decision in December 1998 determining that a portion, but not
all, of the claims constituted state mandated local costs. The Commission is now
developing parameters and guidelines for claims for reimbursement. The
Department of Finance has not yet determined whether to seek judicial review of
the Commission's decision.
In Capitola Land v. Anderson and other related state and federal cases,
plaintiffs sought payments from the State under the AFDC-Foster Care program.
Judgment was rendered against the State in Capitola, which the State appealed
and lost. The State then filed a state plan amendment with the federal
Department of Health and Human Services to enable the State to comply with the
Capitola ruling and receive federal funding. The DHHS denied the state plan
amendment, and the State has filed suit against DHHS. The Legislature also
enacted a statute which required federal funding in order to comply with the
Capitola judgment. The State then refused to implement the Capitola judgment
based on the new statute. Certain plaintiffs moved for an order of contempt
against the State, which was granted by the trial court, but was stayed and
annulled by the Court of Appeal. The plaintiffs are petitioning the California
Supreme Court for review. If, as a result of this litigation, compliance with
the Capitola judgment is required and the judgment is applied retroactively,
liability to the State could exceed $200 million.
In the Northern California 1997 Flood Litigation, a substantial number of
plaintiffs have joined the suit against the State, local agencies, and private
companies and contractors seeking compensation for the damages they suffered as
a result of the 1997 flooding. Property damages have been estimated up to $2
billion. The State is vigorously defending the action.
In Just Say No to Tobacco Dough Campaign v. State of California, the
superior court issued an order in December 1998, granting the State's demurrer
to the entire action and dismissing the case. Plaintiffs have asked the court to
reconsider its ruling.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
Description of certain S&P, Moody's and Fitch ratings:
S&P
Municipal Bond Ratings
An S&P municipal bond rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable, and will include: (1)
likelihood of default--capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the timely
payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of
the obligation; (2) nature and provisions of the obligation; and (3) protection
afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of
bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and
other laws affecting creditors' rights.
AAA
Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay
interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA
Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in a small degree.
A
Principal and interest payments on bonds in this category are regarded as
safe. This rating describes the third strongest capacity for payment of debt
service. It differs from the two higher ratings because:
General Obligation Bonds -- There is some weakness in the local economic
base, in debt burden, in the balance between revenues and expenditures, or in
quality of management. Under certain adverse circumstances, any one such
weakness might impair the ability of the issuer to meet debt obligations at some
future date.
Revenue Bonds -- Debt service coverage is good, but not exceptional.
Stability of the pledged revenues could show some variations because of
increased competition or economic influences on revenues. Basic security
provisions, while satisfactory, are less stringent. Management performance
appears adequate.
BBB
Of the investment grade, this is the lowest.
General Obligation Bonds -- Under certain adverse conditions, several of
the above factors could contribute to a lesser capacity for payment of debt
service. The difference between an A and BBB rating is that the latter shows
more than one fundamental weakness, or one very substantial fundamental
weakness, whereas the former shows only one deficiency among the factors
considered.
Revenue Bonds -- Debt coverage is only fair. Stability of the pledged
revenues could show substantial variations, with the revenue flow possibly being
subject to erosion over time. Basic security provisions are no more than
adequate. Management performance could be stronger.
BB, B, CCC, CC, C
Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC or C is regarded as having predominantly
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest degree
of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective
characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk
exposures to adverse conditions.
BB
Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative grade debt. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead
to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payment.
B
Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but presently has the
capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business,
financial or economic conditions would likely impair capacity or willingness to
pay interest and repay principal.
CCC
Debt rated CCC has a current identifiable vulnerability to default, and is
dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet
timely payments of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse
business, financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the
capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
CC
The rating CC is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating.
C
The rating C is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating.
D
Bonds rated D are in default, and payment of interest and/or payment of
principal is in arrears.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the
addition of a plus or minus designation to show relative standing within the
major rating categories.
Municipal Note Ratings
SP-1
The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit very strong or strong
capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess
overwhelming safety characteristics are given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2
The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit satisfactory capacity to pay
principal and interest.
Commercial Paper Ratings
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood
of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.
Issues assigned an A rating are regarded as having the greatest capacity for
timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated with the numbers 1, 2 and
3 to indicate the relative degree of safety.
A-1
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+)
designation.
Moody's
Municipal Bond Ratings
Aaa
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt
edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what generally are known as
high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and
are to be considered as upper medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security
to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba
Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their
future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest
and principal payments may be very moderate, and therefore not well safeguarded
during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position
characterizes bonds in this class.
B
Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest.
Ca
Bonds which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C
Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any
real investment standing.
Generally, Moody's provides either a generic rating or a rating with a
numerical modifier of 1 for the bonds in the generic rating category Aa. Moody's
also provides numerical modifiers of 2 and 3 in this category for bond issues in
the health care, higher education and other not-for-profit sectors; the modifier
1 indicates that the issue ranks in the higher end of that generic rating
category; the modifier 2 indicates that the issue is in the mid-range of that
generic category; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue is in the low end
of that generic category.
Municipal Note Ratings
Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term loans
are designated Moody's Investment Grade (MIG). Such ratings recognize the
difference between short-term credit risk and long-term risk. Factors affecting
the liquidity of the borrower and short-term cyclical elements are critical in
short-term ratings, while other factors of major importance in bond risk,
long-term secular trends for example, may be less important over the short run.
A short-term rating may also be assigned on an issue having a demand
feature. Such ratings will be designated as VMIG or, if the demand feature is
not rated, as NR. Short-term ratings on issues with demand features are
differentiated by the use of the VMIG symbol to reflect such characteristics as
payment upon periodic demand rather than fixed maturity dates and payment
relying on external liquidity. Additionally, investors should be alert to the
fact that the source of payment may be limited to the external liquidity with no
or limited legal recourse to the issuer in the event the demand is not met.
Moody's short-term ratings are designated Moody's Investment Grade as MIG
1 or VMIG 1 through MIG 4 or VMIG 4. As the name implies, when Moody's assigns a
MIG or VMIG rating, all categories define an investment grade situation.
MIG 1/VMIG 1
This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong protection
by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2/VMIG 2
This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample
although not so large as in the preceding group.
Commercial Paper Ratings
The rating Prime-1 (P-1) is the highest commercial paper rating assigned
by Moody's. Issuers of P-1 paper must have a superior capacity for repayment of
short-term promissory obligations, and ordinarily will be evidenced by leading
market positions in well established industries, high rates of return on funds
employed, conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt
and ample asset protection, broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed
financial charges and high internal cash generation, and well established access
to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Fitch
Municipal Bond Ratings
The ratings represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to meet
the obligations of a specific debt issue or class of debt. The ratings take into
consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to other
obligations of the issuer, the current financial condition and operative
performance of the issuer and of any guarantor, as well as the political and
economic environment that might affect the issuer's future financial strength
and credit quality.
AAA
Bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the highest
credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest
and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable
events.
AA
Bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds
rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally
rated F-1+.
A
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high credit
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered
to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic
conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and
circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse impact on these bonds
and, therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these
bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher
ratings.
BB
Bonds rated BB are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay
interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic
changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which
could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.
B
Bonds rated B are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class
are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued
timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin
of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout
the life of the issue.
CCC
Bonds rated CCC have certain identifiable characteristics, which, if not
remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an
advantageous business and economic environment.
CC
Bonds rated CC are minimally protected. Default payment of interest and/or
principal seems probable over time.
C
Bonds rated C are in imminent default in payment of interest or principal.
DDD, DD and D
Bonds rated DDD, DD and D are in actual or imminent default of interest
and/or principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be
valued on the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or
reorganization of the obligor. DDD represents the highest potential for recovery
on these bonds and D represents the lowest potential for recovery.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to indicate the
relative position of a credit within the rating category. Plus and minus signs,
however, are not used in the AAA category covering 12-36 months or the DDD, DD
or D categories.
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on
demand or have original maturities of up to three years, including commercial
paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment
notes.
Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating analysis,
the short-term rating places greater emphasis than bond ratings on the existence
of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a timely manner.
F-1+
Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1
Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
F-2
Good Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have a satisfactory
degree of assurance for timely payments, but the margin of safety is not as
great as the F-1+ and F-1 categories.
Demand Bond or Notes Ratings
Certain demand securities empower the holder at his option to require the
issuer, usually through a remarketing agent, to repurchase the security upon
notice at par with accrued interest. This is also referred to as a put option.
The ratings of the demand provision may be changed or withdrawn at any time if,
in Fitch's judgment, changing circumstances warrant such action.
Fitch demand provision ratings carry the same symbols and related
definitions as its short-term ratings.
- -------- 1 Included in these categories are tax exempt notes rated within the
two highest grades by a Rating Agency. These securities, together with Municipal
Obligations rated Baa or better by Moody's or BBB or better by S&P or Fitch, are
taken into account at the time of a purchase for purposes of determining that
the Fund's portfolio meets the 80% minimum quality standard discussed above. 2
Included in the Not Rated category are securities comprising 1.3% of the Fund's
market value which, while not rated, have been determined by the Manager to be
of comparable quality to securities rated Baa/BBB.
