Where We Work

California
Public Finance

Our Carlsbad-based team has more than sixty years of combined experience advising California bond issuers. With depth of experience on every type of bond financing permitted under California law, we are ready to help your agency implement its capital plan.

Columbia Capital's Carlsbad-based team has served California municipal bond issuers and borrowers for 30 years. Our experience spans general obligation and lease-revenue bonds, utility revenue bonds, special district financings, successor agency financings, special tax financings (community facility districts, special assessment districts, etc.) and tax and revenue anticipation notes, as well as pension bonds, tobacco securitization bonds, and public-private partnerships.

Columbia Capital has expertise advising:

  • states and state agencies
  • regional governments
  • special districts
  • cities
  • counties
  • community colleges
  • K-12 districts
  • public and private colleges and universities
  • public utilities
  • transportation agencies
  • non-profits
  • iconic issuers
Representative clients in California include large issuers, such as Riverside County, Western Municipal Water District and the City of San Diego. In addition, Columbia has provided services for lease revenue, water, wastewater, electric and successor agency bond financings to the cities of Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Azusa, Carson, Covina, Lynwood, Santa Clarita, and South Gate.

Depth of Experience

14

Series 50
municipal advisors

10

Series 54
advisor principals

5

Series 65
investment advisers

450

California
Transactions

100

Percent committed to the practice of public finance

Services Offered

01

Conceptual Plan of
Finance Development

02

Transaction Financial
Advisory Services

03

CFD Formation
Advisory Services

04

Post-Issuance
Compliance

05

Rating Agency
Strategy

06

Bond Proceeds
Investment

Case Studies

AltTextPension Bonds

Riverside County

In 2020 Columbia advised Riverside County on a pension bond financing that had been two years in the making. Despite COVID-19 pandemic uncertainties, the financing was a success, meeting the County's goals from the transaction.

AltTextMunicipal Utilities

South Gate
Water Utility

Columbia Capital advised the City on a two-part water revenue bond refunding, allowing for the closure of the existing lien and the ability to issue the refunding bonds on a senior lien basis.

AltTextLease-Revenue Bonds

City of
San Diego

In 2020 Columbia advised the City of San Diego evaluate and execute a taxable advance refunding in the wake of the COVID emergency, providing the City with refunding efficiency metrics, breakeven metrics, and interest rate sensitivity analysis.

AltTextCommunity Facilities District

Tejon Ranch
Mountain Village

The Tejon Ranch Corporation asked Columbia Capital to assist it in financing the infrastructure necessary to support its Mountain Village development, a project that, at full build-out, will include 3,450 homes, 160,000 sf of commercial development across 5,000 acres in Southern California.

AltTextRating Strategy

Town of
Yountville

Columbia Capital developed a strategy to assist the Town in obtaining a rating when two rating agencies would not provide a rating if the Town Hall was used as collateral, due to its pre-renovation seismic condition.

Columbia Capital

Trusted

Issuers and borrowers large and small, from coast to coast, have relied upon Columbia Capital as a strategic advisor for 26 years.

Columbia Capital

Experienced

Columbia Capital combines 150 years of public finance expertise among its team of highly experienced, proven professionals.

Columbia Capital

Independent

Columbia Capital is unaffiliated with commercial and investment banks, insurance companies and others in the financial services industry.