N-CSR 1 e618069_ncsr-tct.htm AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON 03/31/2018 FORM N-CSR

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number 811-4626

 

THE CASCADES TRUST

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

120 West 45th Street, Suite 3600

New York, New York 10036

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Joseph P. DiMaggio

120 West 45th Street, Suite 3600

New York, New York 10036

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 697-6666

 

Date of fiscal year end: 3/31/18

 

Date of reporting period: 3/31/18

 

FORM N-CSR

 

ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   

Annual Report

March 31, 2018

                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   

 

  

 

Aquila Tax-Free
Trust of Oregon

 
“Consistency and Continuity”


Serving Oregon investors since 1986

 

     

May, 2018

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

 

     For over three decades, we have sought to give you as comprehensive a picture of Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon as possible by highlighting, in each Annual Report letter, topics we believe you will find of interest.

 

     Yes – “over three decades!” That’s a considerable amount of time. Yet, in some ways, it seems like just yesterday.

 

     We believe part of the reason why it doesn’t feel nearly that long to us is because of our commitment to consistency and continuity.

 

     If we look back over the Aquila Group of Funds’ and the Trust’s existence, many things “feel” the same. In fact, while we have made certain changes, out of necessity or desire, over the years, we take great pride in the unbroken and consistent existence of our core values and beliefs implemented by dedicated and talented individuals.

 

     First and foremost, we never forget that it is your money and your Trust, investing in your state. We view every interaction with you, our shareholders, and your financial professionals as an opportunity to strengthen that relationship.

 

     We also value the fact that you and your fellow shareholders have invested in Aquila Trust of Oregon not only for tax-free income, but also for preservation of capital.

 

     These two key values are the basis of our four guiding principles:

 

manage conservatively

 

focus on what we know best

 

put customers first; and

 

know what’s important

 

     As investment managers for nearly 35 years, we have always believed that investing successfully depends on knowing what you own and why you own it. We believe this is particularly important in today’s markets.

 

     Moreover, we have never lost sight of the strategy that we formulated with our first municipal bond fund back in 1985. That strategy, which was specifically designed with a goal to meet your Trust’s investment objective of double tax-free income and stability of capital on as consistent a basis as possible, includes sticking with high quality investments, keeping an intermediate maturity for the Trust’s portfolio of investments, diversifying our investments, and utilizing the expertise of local talent.

 

     In line with our guiding principles, we have always believed that local makes a real difference - local trustees, local portfolio management, local representatives and local shareholder meetings. We don’t have to read about issues affecting the state, because we have our local eyes and ears.

 

NOT A PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

     Our portfolio management teams are attuned to the nuances of the local municipal markets, the economy and policy decisions. They are well-positioned to “kick the tires” - periodically visiting individual projects as deemed desirable, monitoring economic developments, staying familiar with, and reaching out to, local officials responsible for managing budgets, and observing the mood of the electorate as various projects are put to a vote.

 

     We have also continually placed an emphasis on the quality of investments and the quality of the individuals who oversee those investments. When selecting securities we have always focused on the source and reliability of revenue and income streams, the management teams and the financial decisions they make, and the discipline those teams apply to executing their strategic and budget plans.

 

     Our investment strategy of consistently focusing upon municipal bond funds with intermediate maturities has always been with a goal to limit volatility with any change in interest rates.

 

     Our philosophy concerning diversification has been consistent as well. It’s quite simple – “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” To the maximum extent possible, Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon continually strives to invest in as many types of projects as possible throughout the state. This is done not only to limit exposure in any particular situation, but also to enhance the quality of life throughout Oregon by financing worthy municipal projects. We are very proud that your Trust has consistently served thousands of residents and local projects very well over the years through its support of Oregon’s vital infrastructure.

 

     In addition to our timeless and consistent focus, our continuity continues through the high caliber and longevity of our team. For example, I’ve been with the Aquila Group of Funds for over 30 years now. Your Trust has been fortunate to draw upon the experience of many other long-tenured team members as well over the years.

 

     So, while the pieces of the puzzle may have changed shape over the years, when put together, the picture it forms is still the same - year in and year out.

 

     Thank you for your continued confidence and loyalty in Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Diana P. Herrmann, Vice Chair and President

 

Any information in this Shareholder Letter regarding market or economic trends or the factors influencing the Trust’s historical or future performance are statements of opinion as of the date of this report. These statements should not be relied upon for any other purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and there is no guarantee that any market forecasts discussed will be realized.

 

NOT A PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

Aquila Tax-Free
Trust of Oregon

 
ANNUAL REPORT
Management Discussion


 

Serving Oregon investors since 1986

 

 

Trust Performance

 

     The total return for the Class A shares of Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the “Trust”) based on Net Asset Value (“NAV”) was 0.68% for the year ended March 31, 2018. The Bloomberg Barclays Quality Intermediate Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”) returned 1.11% for the same period. The portfolio performed very close to the Index returns for most sectors and maturity ranges. The underperformance was due primarily to our overweighting in pre-refunded bonds. These securities lagged market returns in the first part of the year as rates were declining and credit quality spreads were compressing. As part of our overall portfolio strategy we have purposely maintained a heightened exposure to pre-refunded bonds as a source for liquidity and current yield. Characteristics that provided favorable comparisons to the Index included a higher concentration in 7 to 10 year maturities, and a larger exposure to school district bonds.

 

Municipal Market

 

     After an end of year rush to market resulting in a strong year for municipal issuance in 2017, we expect issuance is set for 2018 due, in large part, to the passage of the TCJA which eliminated advance refundings. Just over the first quarter of 2018, issuance dropped 31% compared to the first quarter of 2017. As a result, demand for new municipal bond issues has continued to be strong, further exaggerating supply limitations. Although the decrease in the corporate tax rate could make municipal bonds less attractive among banks and insurance companies, we believe individual demand will likely to remain high due to the limited State and Local Taxes (“SALT”) deduction.

 

     However, strong demand and lack of supply could not overcome the impact of a rise in yields led by the Fed raising interest rates. In contrast to last year overall, first quarter 2018 experienced a steepening as yields on both Treasury and municipal bonds increased around 40 basis points in the 10-year part of the curve. Overall, the muni curve has become flatter, with a slight positive slope. Although we expect to see continued flattening, we do not anticipate inversion of the municipal curve, due to a variety of factors including the impact of the new issue market. In addition, credit spreads remain historically tight, with little additional yield being offered for added risk.

 

U.S. Economy

 

     U.S. economic data remains solid with continued signs of growth and improvement following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). The labor market remains strong and the 4.1% unemployment rate has remained near the lowest level seen in the past 40 years. Furthermore, we expect that economic activity will expand at a moderate pace and that labor market conditions will remain strong as unemployment rates are projected to decline and inflation to move up and stabilize around 2%. Consumer confidence remains high as spending continues to grow due to an overall increase in household wealth and income. However, as a result of elevated spending levels, the household savings rate has declined to its lowest level since 2005.

 

1 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION (continued)

 

     It came as no surprise that the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) raised interest rates by 25 basis points in March, the fifth rate increase since December 2015, as the Fed continues to tighten monetary policy. The move came amid a strengthening labor market and economic activity rising at a moderate rate. Although the Fed has maintained its forecast for three rate hikes in 2018 amid modest inflation, both short-term and long-term government yields rose while major averages in the stock market moved higher due to the Fed’s outlook.

 

     However, rates are not just rising in the U.S., but internationally as well. In overseas markets, the German 10-year bond yield was positive all year, after being negative for a quarter of 2016. Rate movements observed in the international markets have generally depicted the rise in oil prices and inflation expectations. We believe this trend is likely to continue as economic prospects and shifts in monetary policy continue to become more optimistic in Europe and Japan. As a result, U.S. Treasuries are becoming less attractive to foreign owners, which account for approximately 38.4% of the $16 trillion Treasury market.

 

Oregon Economy

 

     Much like the national economy, we believe activity continues to show strength across the State of Oregon. For 14 consecutive months, Oregon’s unemployment rate has been around 4.1%, and has experienced the lowest levels since comparable records began in 1976. Payroll employment grew by 43,700 jobs, or 2.3%, in the most recent 12 months. The major industries adding jobs are: retail trade, construction, and health care and social assistance. The share of prime working-age Oregonians with a job is now back to where it was prior to the Great Recession. However, we expect that employment growth will likely slow down as the State economy approaches full employment.

 

     As hinted by the strong growth in construction jobs, housing prices continue to make strong gains with the Portland market growing 7.1% annually, according to March 2018 data provided by S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices. Factors driving growth in the housing market include the strong labor growth and limited inventory. In our credit research we have also noted that the assessed values of local governments have now largely increased above pre-recession highs, which has resulted in stronger tax revenues. The Portland market's home prices continue to set new records with prices now 21% higher than the previous high-water mark, set in August 2007. However, affordability remains a concern for us.

 

     Through our credit research we have noted distinct differences in pension funding levels and pension contribution levels at the issuer level. The Oregon Public Employees’ Retirement System continues to be a focus of our credit research due to the $25.3 billion unfunded liability at the end of 2016 and the resulting increases to contribution rates of the State and local governments. The State’s recently concluded legislative session included Senate Bill 1566, which was passed by lawmakers to establish a special incentive fund for qualifying public employers. We remain concerned about the contribution levels many issuers face and as a result, our credit research includes a review of each holding’s pension exposure. We have also given more significant weight to issuers with pension reserve funds engineered to mitigate, or at least partially off-set, the impact of future rate increases.

 

2 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION (continued)

 

     Oregon saw a slow start to 2018, with tax-exempt non-AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) issuance of $723 million for the first quarter of the year; less than half of 2017 first quarter issuance. First quarter new issuance in 2017 was primarily driven by the November 2016 general election, which approved $1.76 billion in general obligation bonds across the State. By comparison, the November 2017 election only approved $852 million. Furthermore, as a result of the elimination of advance refundings by the TCJA, Oregon issuers rushed to complete their refunding bonds prior to the end of the year. As a result, December 2017 experienced almost three times the level of issuance versus the prior December. This rush to issuance also included many issues that would have otherwise waited until the first quarter of this year, further skewing the results. However, there are several local governments that have either authorized bond measures or have announced their intention to issue new bonds in 2018. For example, Salem-Keizer School District has a $620 million issue on the May ballot for creating new science labs and upgrading schools, and the City of Eugene has a $39 million issue on the May ballot for the park and recreation facilities.

 

Outlook and Strategy

 

     The Trust’s portfolio characteristics have become more defensive over the past year with the weighted average maturity declining to 6.98 years. Credit quality has remained very high with approximately 94% of the portfolio rated AA or higher. We believe that our defensive strategy will weather the rapidly changing interest rate environment well. While it is possible the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates 2 or 3 more times this year, we don’t anticipate a major disruption as evidenced by the market’s reaction to the March increase. We expect a slight upward bias in interest rates driven by Federal Reserve activities for the remainder of 2018. This may allow us to take advantage of higher yields by replacing some securities that we purchased during the very low interest rate environment in recent years.

 

     The Trust currently benefits from legacy holdings purchased in higher interest rate environments that have been pre-refunded. These high-quality liquid securities provide what we believe to be an attractive current yield and help to reduce price volatility for our shareholders and provide the flexibility to reinvest in higher yielding bonds, should interest rates rise. We intend to continue our defensive investment strategy by striving to maintain an intermediate average portfolio maturity, emphasizing investment-grade credit quality, and a balanced exposure to callable bonds. Furthermore, we will seek to continue to perform in-depth credit research on all portfolio holdings, as we believe it is critical during the current rapidly changing economic environment.

 

3 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

Mutual fund investing involves risk and loss of principal is possible.

 

The market prices of the Trust’s securities may rise or decline in value due to general market conditions, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions, inflation, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in the bond markets or adverse investor sentiment. When market prices fall, the value of your investment may go down. In the past several years, financial markets have experienced increased volatility, depressed valuations, decreased liquidity and heightened uncertainty. These conditions may continue, recur, worsen or spread.

 

The value of your investment may go down when interest rates rise. A rise in interest rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term securities. Interest rates in the U.S. have begun to rise after having been at historical lows for some time, so the Trust faces a heightened risk that interest rates may continue to rise. A general rise in interest rates may cause investors to move out of fixed income securities and could also result in increased redemptions from the Trust.

 

Investments in the Trust are subject to possible loss due to the financial failure of the issuers of underlying securities and their inability to meet their debt obligations.

 

The value of municipal securities can be adversely affected by changes in the financial condition of one or more individual municipal issuers or insurers of municipal issuers, regulatory developments, legislative actions, and by uncertainties and public perceptions concerning these and other factors. The Trust may be affected significantly by adverse economic, political or other events affecting state and other municipal issuers in which it invests, and may be more volatile than a more geographically diverse fund.

 

A portion of income may be subject to local, state, Federal and/or alternative minimum tax. Capital gains, if any, are subject to capital gains tax.

 

These risks may result in share price volatility.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and there is no guarantee that any market forecasts discussed will be realized.

 

Any information in this Annual Report regarding market or economic trends or the factors influencing the Trust’s historical or future performance are statements of opinion as of the date of this report. These statements should not be relied upon for any other purposes.

 

4 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT

 

     The following graph illustrates the value of $10,000 invested in the Class Y shares of Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (“the Trust”) for the 10-year period ended March 31, 2018 as compared with the Bloomberg Barclays Quality Intermediate Municipal Bond Index (the “Bloomberg Barclays Quality Index”) and the Consumer Price Index (a cost of living index). The performance of each of the other classes is not shown in the graph but is included in the table below. It should be noted that the Bloomberg Barclays Quality Index does not include any operating expenses nor sales charges, and being nationally oriented, does not reflect state-specific bond market performance.

 

 

 

   Average Annual Total Return
   for periods ended March 31, 2018
  
Class and Inception Date  1 Year  5 Years  10 Years 

Since

Inception

   
Class A since 6/16/86                       
With Maximum Sales Charge   (3.36)%   0.89%   3.05%   4.96%   
Without Sales Charge   0.68    1.71    3.47    5.10    
Class C since 4/5/96                       
With CDSC**   (1.16)   0.85    2.60    3.30    
Without CDSC   (0.18)   0.85    2.60    3.30    
Class Y since 4/5/96                       
No Sales Charge   0.83    1.87    3.63    4.34    
                        
Bloomberg Barclays Quality Index   1.11    1.91    3.57    5.15*  (Class A)
                   4.38   (Class C & Y)

 

Total return figures shown for the Trust reflect any change in price and assume all distributions, including capital gains, within the period were invested in additional shares. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Trust distributions or the redemption of Trust Shares. The rates of return will vary and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate with market conditions. Shares, if redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. A portion of each class’s income may be subject to Federal and state income taxes. Past performance is not predictive of future investment results.

 

* From commencement of the Bloomberg Barclays Quality Index on 1/1/87.

** CDSC = 1% contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within the first 12 months after purchase.

 

5 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Trustees and the

Shareholders of Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

     We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the “Trust”), including the schedule of investments, as of March 31, 2018, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of March 31, 2018, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

     These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Trust’s’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We have served as the auditor for the Trust since 2005.

 

     We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

     Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2018 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 29, 2018

 

6 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (47.9%)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   City & County (6.4%)      
     Bend, Oregon        
$2,435,000   4.000%, 06/01/24  Aa2/NR/NR  $2,617,357 
     Canby, Oregon        
 1,060,000   5.000%, 06/01/27  A1/NR/NR   1,148,436 
 1,405,000   4.000%, 12/01/24 AGMC Insured  A1/NR/NR   1,488,907 
     Clackamas County, Oregon Refunding        
 1,135,000   4.000%, 06/01/24  Aaa/NR/NR   1,221,408 
     Gresham, Oregon Full Faith and Credit        
     Refunding and Project Obligations        
 1,545,000   5.000%, 05/01/23  Aa2/NR/NR   1,751,736 
     Lake Oswego, Oregon Refunding        
 3,140,000   4.000%, 12/01/30  Aaa/AAA/NR   3,484,992 
     Lebanon, Oregon Refunding        
 1,050,000   5.000%, 06/01/24  A1/NR/NR   1,178,488 
 1,165,000   5.000%, 06/01/25  A1/NR/NR   1,345,750 
     McMinnville, Oregon Refunding        
 2,075,000   5.000%, 02/01/27  Aa3/NR/NR   2,380,440 
     Multnomah County, Oregon        
 3,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/30  Aaa/AAA/NR   3,588,870 
     Portland, Oregon Limited Tax, Sellwood        
     Bridge & Archive Space Projects        
 1,640,000   4.000%, 04/01/29 2017 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   1,820,302 
 1,710,000   4.000%, 04/01/30 2017 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   1,883,599 
 1,775,000   4.000%, 04/01/31 2017 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   1,947,761 
     Portland, Oregon Public Safety        
 1,345,000   5.000%, 06/15/25 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   1,592,493 
 2,130,000   4.125%, 06/01/26 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   2,188,106 
     Redmond, Oregon Refunding        
 735,000   5.000%, 06/01/23 Series A  Aa3/NR/NR   815,453 
     Springfield, Oregon        
 1,765,000   4.000%, 06/01/24  Aa3/NR/NR   1,948,154 
 1,830,000   4.000%, 06/01/25  Aa3/NR/NR   2,030,458 
     Washington County, Oregon        
 5,055,000   4.000%, 06/01/29 Series B  Aaa/NR/NR   5,580,063 
     Total City & County      40,012,773 

 

7 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Community Colleges (4.0%)      
     Blue Mountain Community College        
     District Umatilla, Oregon Morrow and        
     Baker Counties Oregon (Umatilla and        
     Morrow Counties Service Area)        
$970,000   4.000%, 06/15/27 Series 2015  NR/AA+/NR  $1,060,617 
     Central Oregon Community        
     College District        
 1,850,000   4.750%, 06/15/22  NR/AA+/NR   1,969,214 
 2,195,000   4.750%, 06/15/23  NR/AA+/NR   2,334,492 
 2,175,000   4.750%, 06/15/26  NR/AA+/NR   2,307,892 
     Chemeketa, Oregon Community        
     College District        
 2,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  NR/AA+/NR   2,309,040 
     Clackamas, Oregon Community        
     College District        
 1,405,000   5.000%, 06/15/27 Series A  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,631,064 
     Columbia Gorge, Oregon Community        
     College District, Refunding        
 1,000,000   4.000%, 06/15/24  Aa1/NR/NR   1,072,640 
     Lane, Oregon Community College        
 1,840,000   5.000%, 06/15/24  NR/AA+/NR   2,061,260 
 1,750,000   4.000%, 06/15/24  Aa1/NR/NR   1,920,940 
     Linn Benton, Oregon        
     Community College        
 1,520,000   5.000%, 06/01/27  NR/AA+/NR   1,763,367 
     Mount Hood, Oregon Community        
     College District Refunding        
 1,865,000   5.000%, 06/01/27  Aa2/NR/NR   2,204,206 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/29  Aa2/NR/NR   1,173,020 
     Oregon Coast Community College        
     District State        
 1,770,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/NR/NR   1,983,604 
     Rogue, Oregon Community        
     College District        
 1,375,000   4.000%, 06/15/29 Series B  Aa1/NR/NR   1,497,196 
     Total Community Colleges      25,288,552 

 

8 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Higher Education (0.9%)      
     Oregon State Higher Education        
$1,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/25 Series C  Aa1/AA+/AA+  $1,160,040 
 1,795,000   5.000%, 08/01/27 Series C  Aa1/AA+/AA+   2,077,695 
     Oregon State, Oregon University System        
 1,170,000   4.000%, 08/01/25 Series B  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,256,463 
 1,090,000   5.000%, 08/01/25 Series N  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,242,611 
     Total Higher Education      5,736,809 
              
     Hospital (0.8%)        
     Pacific Communities Health District,        
     Oregon        
 1,220,000   5.000%, 06/01/29  A1/NR/NR   1,417,457 
 1,060,000   5.000%, 06/01/30  A1/NR/NR   1,223,198 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/31  A1/NR/NR   1,149,250 
 1,200,000   5.000%, 06/01/32  A1/NR/NR   1,375,344 
     Total Hospital      5,165,249 
              
     School Districts (23.8%)        
     Clackamas County, Oregon School        
     District #12 (North Clackamas)        
 2,450,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,843,935 
 1,165,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,370,890 
 1,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/26  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,736,475 
 3,725,000   5.000%, 06/15/31  Aa1/AA+/NR   4,408,687 
 2,160,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,575,822 
     Clackamas County, Oregon School        
     District #62 (Oregon City)        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/29 MAC Insured  Aa3/AA/NR   1,129,710 
     Clackamas County, Oregon School        
     District #86 (Canby)        
 1,800,000   5.000%, 06/15/24  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,019,528 
 1,110,000   5.000%, 06/15/25 Series A  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,243,478 
     Clackamas & Washington Counties,        
     Oregon School District No. 3JT        
     (West Linn-Wilsonville)        
 3,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/26  Aa1/AA+/NR   4,098,290 
 5,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/27  Aa1/AA+/NR   6,424,330 
 1,115,000   5.000%, 06/15/28  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,296,790 

 

9 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   School Districts (continued)      
     Clatsop County, Oregon School        
     District #10 (Seaside)        
$1,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR  $1,192,510 
     Deschutes County, Oregon        
     Administrative School District #1        
     (Bend - La Pine)        
 3,000,000   4.000%, 06/15/30  Aa1/AA+/NR   3,269,760 
     Deschutes County, Oregon School        
     District #6 (Sisters)        
 1,735,000   5.250%, 06/15/19 AGMC Insured  A2/AA+/NR   1,810,351 
 1,030,000   5.250%, 06/15/21 AGMC Insured  A2/AA+/NR   1,137,614 
     Deschutes and Jefferson Counties,        
     Oregon School District #02J        
     (Redmond)        
 80,000   5.000%, 06/15/21 NPFG/ FGIC        
     Insured  Aa1/NR/NR   80,204 
 1,025,000   zero coupon, 06/15/23  Aa1/NR/NR   907,740 
     Greater Albany School District #8J        
     (Linn & Benton Counties)        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/30  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,188,010 
     Hood River County, Oregon        
     School District        
 2,825,000   4.000%, 06/15/29  NR/AA+/NR   3,091,256 
 2,260,000   4.000%, 06/15/30  NR/AA+/NR   2,452,213 
 2,400,000   4.000%, 06/15/31  NR/AA+/NR   2,585,904 
     Jefferson County, Oregon School        
     District #509J        
 1,400,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/NR/NR   1,591,576 
     Klamath County, Oregon School District        
 1,250,000   5.000%, 06/15/24  NR/AA+/NR   1,425,662 
     Lane County, Oregon School District #4J        
     (Eugene) Refunding        
 1,130,000   4.000%, 06/15/23  Aa1/NR/NR   1,202,591 
 2,850,000   4.000%, 06/15/24  Aa1/NR/NR   3,074,865 
 2,765,000   3.000%, 06/15/24  Aa1/NR/NR   2,879,443 
 4,575,000   5.000%, 06/15/26  Aa1/NR/NR   5,267,701 

 

10 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   School Districts (continued)      
     Lane County, Oregon School        
     District #19 (Springfield)        
$1,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/AA+/NR  $1,163,040 
 1,735,000   5.000%, 06/15/27  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,029,082 
     Lane County, Oregon School        
     District #69 (Junction City)        
 630,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/NR/NR   739,059 
     Lane & Douglas Counties, Oregon        
     School District #45J3        
 2,665,000   4.000%, 06/15/27 Series B  Aa1/NR/NR   2,947,144 
     Lincoln County, Oregon School District        
 2,370,000   4.000%, 06/15/24 Series A  Aa1/NR/NR   2,518,433 
     Marion County, Oregon School        
     District #103 (Woodburn)        
 2,140,000   5.000%, 06/15/27  Aa1/NR/NR   2,499,648 
 2,260,000   5.000%, 06/15/28  Aa1/NR/NR   2,628,470 
     Marion & Clackamas Counties, Oregon        
     School District #4J (Silver Falls)        
 1,260,000   5.000%, 06/15/24  Aa1/NR/NR   1,439,071 
     Morrow County, Oregon School        
     District #1        
 1,710,000   5.250%, 06/15/19 AGMC Insured  A2/AA+/NR   1,784,265 
     Multnomah County, Oregon School        
     District #1J (Portland)        
 2,970,000   5.000%, 06/15/26 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   3,471,277 
     Multnomah County, Oregon School        
     District #7 (Reynolds)        
 5,680,000   5.000%, 06/15/26 Series A  Aa1/NR/NR   6,659,175 
 1,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/27 Series A  Aa1/NR/NR   1,754,250 
 1,825,000   5.000%, 06/15/28 Series A  Aa1/NR/NR   2,123,862 
     Multnomah County, Oregon School        
     District #7 (Reynolds) Refunding        
 1,165,000   5.000%, 06/01/29  Aa3/NR/NR   1,242,368 
     Multnomah County, Oregon School        
     District #40 (David Douglas)        
 1,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/23 Series A  NR/AA+/NR   1,677,795 

 

11 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   School Districts (continued)      
     Multnomah and Clackamas Counties,        
     Oregon School District #10        
     (Gresham-Barlow)        
$4,275,000   5.250%, 06/15/19 AGMC Insured  Aa1/AA+/NR  $4,458,568 
 2,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,981,275 
     Multnomah and Clackamas Counties,        
     Oregon School District #28JT        
     (Centennial)        
 2,680,000   5.250%, 12/15/18 AGMC Insured  Aa1/NR/NR   2,747,750 
     Polk, Marion & Benton Counties,        
     Oregon School District #13J (Central)        
 1,515,000   4.000%, 02/01/28  NR/AA+/NR   1,637,988 
     Union County, Oregon School District        
     #1 (La Grande)        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/27  Aa1/NR/NR   1,160,900 
     Wasco County, Oregon School District        
     #12 (The Dalles)        
 1,790,000   5.500%, 06/15/20 AGMC Insured  A2/AA/NR   1,934,596 
     Washington County, Oregon School        
     District #48J (Beaverton)        
 2,750,000   4.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,945,195 
 2,275,000   4.000%, 06/15/23 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,457,364 
 5,290,000   4.000%, 06/15/24 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   5,707,381 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/25 Series 2014B  Aa1/AA+/NR   3,463,560 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/28 Series 2014B  Aa1/AA+/NR   3,439,320 
 1,845,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series 2014B  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,108,318 
 1,500,000   5.000%, 06/15/27 Series C  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,803,705 
 1,015,000   4.000%, 06/01/29 Series 2016  Aa2/NR/NR   1,100,971 
     Washington, Clackamas & Yamhill        
     Counties, Oregon School District #88J        
 2,785,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   3,321,140 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,421,580 
     Washington, Multnomah & Yamhill        
     Counties, Oregon School District #1J        
     (Hillsboro)        
 1,535,000   4.000%, 06/15/25  Aa1/NR/NR   1,642,680 
 2,105,000   5.000%, 06/15/30  Aa1/NR/NR   2,510,234 

 

12 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   School Districts (continued)      
     Yamhill County, Oregon School District        
     #40 (McMinnville)        
$2,255,000   4.000%, 06/15/26  Aa1/NR/NR  $2,436,054 
 1,000,000   4.000%, 06/15/29  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,096,560 
 1,000,000   4.000%, 06/15/30  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,088,870 
     Total School Districts      149,446,283 
              
     Special Districts (4.0%)        
     Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Park &        
     Recreational District        
 1,430,000   4.000%, 06/01/27  Aa3/NR/NR   1,517,545 
     Clackamas County, Oregon Fire        
     District No. 1        
 1,020,000   4.000%, 06/01/30  NR/AA/NR   1,120,001 
 2,705,000   4.000%, 06/01/31  NR/AA/NR   2,947,341 
     Metro, Oregon        
 4,000,000   4.000%, 06/01/26 Series A  Aaa/AAA/NR   4,278,120 
     Tualatin Hills, Oregon Park &        
     Recreational District        
 3,480,000   5.000%, 06/01/23  Aa1/NR/NR   3,976,596 
 4,725,000   5.000%, 06/01/24  Aa1/NR/NR   5,495,081 
 2,775,000   5.000%, 06/01/26  Aa1/NR/NR   3,231,155 
     Tualatin Valley, Oregon Fire & Rescue        
     Rural Fire Protection District        
 1,235,000   4.000%, 06/01/26  Aaa/NR/NR   1,303,271 
 1,170,000   4.000%, 06/01/27  Aaa/NR/NR   1,231,378 
     Total Special Districts      25,100,488 
              
     State (6.4%)        
     State of Oregon        
 750,000   5.000%, 05/01/25 Series A  Aa1/AA+/AA+   865,613 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 05/01/23 Series L  Aa1/AA+/AA+   3,288,030 
 1,125,000   5.000%, 05/01/24 Series L  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,233,011 
 1,470,000   4.000%, 11/01/26 Series M  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,563,668 
 2,125,000   4.000%, 05/01/25 Series O  Aa1/AA+/AA+   2,249,270 
     State of Oregon Article XI-G        
     Community College Projects        
 1,160,000   5.000%, 08/01/27 Series J  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,359,822 

 

13 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   State (continued)      
     State of Oregon Article XI-G        
     Higher Education        
$500,000   5.000%, 08/01/25 Series O  Aa1/AA+/AA+  $590,915 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/26 Series O  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,178,140 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/27 Series O  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,172,260 
     State of Oregon Article XI-M        
     Seismic Projects        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/30  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,177,030 
     State of Oregon Article XI-Q State Projects        
 2,140,000   5.000%, 11/01/28  Aa1/AA+/AA+   2,529,095 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 11/01/30  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,173,830 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 11/01/31  Aa1/AA+/AA+   2,341,300 
 1,195,000   5.000%, 05/01/28 Series D  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,414,187 
 1,255,000   5.000%, 05/01/29 Series D  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,480,160 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 05/01/30 Series D  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,175,420 
 2,300,000   5.000%, 05/01/28 Series F  Aa1/AA+/AA+   2,674,072 
     State of Oregon Department of        
     Administrative Services COP        
 1,815,000   5.000%, 11/01/27 Series C  Aa2/AA/AA   1,903,173 
 1,195,000   5.000%, 11/01/28 Series C  Aa2/AA/AA   1,253,053 
     State of Oregon Department of        
     Administrative Services, Oregon        
     Opportunity Refunding        
 6,210,000   5.000%, 12/01/19  Aa1/AA+/AA+   6,553,537 
     State of Oregon Higher Education        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/28 Series A  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,167,140 
 1,250,000   5.000%, 08/01/30 Series L  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,498,175 
     Total State      39,840,901 
              
     Transportation (1.2%)        
     Oregon State Department Transportation        
     Highway Usertax (Senior Lien)        
 5,000,000   5.000%, 11/15/29 Series B  Aa1/AAA/AA+   5,968,300 
     State of Oregon ODOT Projects        
 1,020,000   5.000%, 11/15/30 Series M  Aa1/AA+/AA+   1,217,533 
     Total Transportation      7,185,833 

 

14 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  General Obligation Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Water & Sewer (0.4%)      
     Gearheart, Oregon        
$1,060,000   4.500%, 03/01/26 AGMC Insured  A2/NR/NR  $1,122,211 
     Rockwood, Oregon Water Peoples        
     Utility District Water        
     Revenue Refunding        
 1,270,000   4.250%, 08/15/26  A1/NR/NR   1,347,216 
     Total Water & Sewer      2,469,427 
     Total General Obligation Bonds      300,246,315 
              
     Revenue Bonds (28.8%)        
     City & County (2.3%)        
     Newport, Oregon Urban Renewal        
     Obligations, Refunding        
 565,000   4.500%, 06/15/22 Series B  NR/AA-/NR   598,505 
     Portland, Oregon Revenue Refunding        
     Limited Tax, Oregon        
     Convention Center        
 2,825,000   5.000%, 06/01/24  Aaa/NR/NR   3,096,935 
 4,265,000   5.000%, 06/01/27  Aaa/NR/NR   4,671,412 
     Portland, Oregon Revenue Refunding        
     Limited Tax        
 1,000,000   4.000%, 04/01/22 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   1,023,580 
     Portland, Oregon River District Urban        
     Renewal and Redevelopment        
 1,600,000   5.000%, 06/15/22 Series B  A1/NR/NR   1,784,192 
 1,830,000   5.000%, 06/15/23 Series B  A1/NR/NR   2,036,772 
     Portland, Oregon Urban Renewal and        
     Redevelopment, Refunding,        
     North Macadam        
 1,000,000   4.000%, 06/15/25 Series B  A1/NR/NR   1,037,110 
     Total City & County      14,248,506 
              
     Electric (1.6%)        
     Eugene, Oregon Electric Utility        
     Refunding System        
 2,875,000   5.000%, 08/01/29 Series A  Aa2/AA-/AA-   3,379,160 
 4,030,000   5.000%, 08/01/30 Series A  Aa2/AA-/AA-   4,720,258 

 

15 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Revenue Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Electric (continued)      
     Northern Wasco County, Oregon        
     Peoples Utility District (McNary Dam        
     Fishway Hydroelectric Project),        
     Refunding        
$1,585,000   5.000%, 12/01/21 Series A  NR/AA-/NR  $1,746,115 
     Total Electric      9,845,533 
              
     Higher Education (1.7%)        
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     (Lewis & Clark College Project)        
 1,000,000   5.250%, 10/01/24 Series A  A3/A-/NR   1,097,800 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/27 Series A  A3/A-/NR   3,269,430 
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     (Linfield College Project)        
 1,180,000   5.000%, 10/01/22 Series A  Baa1/NR/NR   1,313,706 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/23 Series A  Baa1/NR/NR   1,130,890 
 1,220,000   5.000%, 10/01/31 Series A 2010  Baa1/NR/NR   1,281,817 
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     (Reed College Project)        
 500,000   5.000%, 07/01/30 Series A  Aa2/AA-/NR   592,160 
 1,135,000   4.000%, 07/01/31 Series A  Aa2/AA-/NR   1,235,561 
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     (Willamette University)        
 1,000,000   4.000%, 10/01/24  NR/A/NR   1,026,650 
     Total Higher Education      10,948,014 
              
     Hospitals (4.8%)        
     Medford, Oregon Hospital Facilities        
     Authority Revenue Refunding,        
     Asante Health Systems        
 9,000,000   5.500%, 08/15/28 AGMC Insured  NR/AA/NR   9,668,070 
     Oregon Health Sciences University        
 9,025,000   zero coupon, 07/01/21 NPFG Insured  Aa3/AA-/AA-   7,984,147 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 07/01/23 Series A   Aa3/AA-/AA-   2,224,820 
 1,250,000   5.000%, 07/01/28 Series B  Aa3/AA-/AA-   1,473,313 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 07/01/33 Series B  Aa3/AA-/AA-   1,156,940 

 

16 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Revenue Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Hospitals (continued)      
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     Revenue Refunding, Legacy        
     Health Systems        
$1,000,000   4.750%, 03/15/24  A1/AA-/NR  $1,046,640 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 03/15/30  A1/AA-/NR   1,047,080 
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     Revenue Refunding, Samaritan        
     Health Services        
 1,500,000   4.375%, 10/01/20  NR/BBB+/NR   1,581,015 
 2,000,000   4.500%, 10/01/21  NR/BBB+/NR   2,113,060 
 1,520,000   5.000%, 10/01/23  NR/BBB+/NR   1,626,202 
     Total Hospitals      29,921,287 
              
     Housing (0.6%)        
     Clackamas County, Oregon Housing        
     Authority Multifamily Housing        
     Revenue (Easton Ridge        
     Apartments Project)        
 1,310,000   4.000%, 09/01/27 Series A  Aa2/NR/NR   1,368,164 
     Portland, Oregon Urban Renewal and        
     Redevelopment, Interstate Corridor        
 1,390,000   5.000%, 06/15/27 Series B  A1/NR/NR   1,514,989 
     State of Oregon Housing and        
     Community Services        
 950,000   1.800%, 01/01/23  Aa2/NR/NR   923,324 
     Total Housing      3,806,477 
              
     Lottery (4.1%)        
     Oregon State Department of        
     Administration Services (Lottery        
     Revenue)        
 1,015,000   5.250%, 04/01/26 Series A  Aa2/AAA/NR   1,111,658 
 1,715,000   5.000%, 04/01/24 Series B  Aa2/AAA/NR   1,903,907 
 1,500,000   5.000%, 04/01/25 Series B  Aa2/AAA/NR   1,660,980 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/25 Series B  Aa2/AAA/NR   1,154,010 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/26 Series C  Aa2/AAA/NR   3,507,900 
 4,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/30 Series C  Aa2/AAA/NR   4,758,440 
 5,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/26 Series D  Aa2/AAA/NR   5,846,500 

 

17 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Revenue Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Lottery (continued)      
     Oregon State Department of        
     Administration Services (Lottery        
     Revenue) (continued)        
$4,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/28 Series D  Aa2/AAA/NR  $4,646,400 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/29 Series D  Aa2/AAA/NR   1,158,120 
     Total Lottery      25,747,915 
              
     Sales Tax (0.1%)        
     Metro, Oregon Dedicated Tax Revenue        
     (Oregon Convention Center Hotel)        
 750,000   5.000%, 06/15/31  Aa3/NR/NR   877,672 
              
     Transportation (6.2%)        
     Oregon State Department Transportation        
     Highway Usertax, Senior Lien        
 3,605,000   5.000%, 11/15/24 Series A  Aa1/AAA/AA+   4,067,702 
 2,425,000   5.000%, 11/15/25 Series A  Aa1/AAA/AA+   2,733,969 
 1,040,000   5.000%, 11/15/26 Series A  Aa1/AAA/AA+   1,210,030 
 8,000,000   5.000%, 11/15/28 Series A  Aa1/AAA/AA+   9,244,160 
     Port Portland, Oregon Airport Revenue        
     Refunding, Portland International        
     Airport Series Twenty Three        
 2,525,000   5.000%, 07/01/26  NR/AA-/NR   2,938,999 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 07/01/28  NR/AA-/NR   1,151,090 
 2,390,000   5.000%, 07/01/29  NR/AA-/NR   2,739,251 
     Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation        
     District, Oregon Capital Grant Receipt        
 1,100,000   5.000%, 10/01/27 Series A  A3/A/NR   1,296,515 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/30 Series A  A3/A/NR   1,167,840 
     Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation        
     District, Oregon Senior Lien        
     Payroll Tax        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 09/01/25 Series A  Aaa/AAA/NR   1,183,740 
 1,890,000   5.000%, 09/01/28 Series A  Aaa/AAA/NR   2,255,866 
 1,650,000   5.000%, 09/01/29 Series A  Aaa/AAA/NR   1,962,510 
 3,975,000   5.000%, 09/01/30 Series A  Aaa/AAA/NR   4,711,289 
 2,010,000   5.000%, 09/01/29 Series B  Aaa/AAA/NR   2,350,936 
     Total Transportation      39,013,897 

 

18 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Revenue Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Water & Sewer (7.4%)      
     Clackamas County, Oregon Service        
     District No. 1        
$2,240,000   5.000%, 12/01/26  NR/AA+/NR  $2,685,178 
     Clean Water Services, Oregon Refunding        
     (Senior Lien)        
 1,510,000   5.000%, 10/01/27  Aa1/AAA/NR   1,835,843 
     Eugene, Oregon Water Utility System        
 115,000   5.000%, 08/01/28  Aa2/AA/AA+   136,111 
 450,000   5.000%, 08/01/29  Aa2/AA/AA+   528,912 
     Grants Pass, Oregon        
 1,000,000   4.000%, 12/01/23  NR/AA-/NR   1,083,920 
     Madras, Oregon        
 725,000   4.500%, 02/15/27  A3/NR/NR   775,917 
     Portland, Oregon Water System        
     (First Lien)        
 3,230,000   5.000%, 05/01/27 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   3,729,907 
 3,500,000   5.000%, 06/01/28 Series A  Aa1/AA/NR   4,065,355 
     Portland, Oregon Sewer System        
     (Second Lien)        
 3,005,000   5.000%, 03/01/28 Series A  Aa2/AA-/NR   3,183,647 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/25 Series B  Aa2/AA-/NR   2,316,200 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/26 Series B  Aa2/AA-/NR   2,334,480 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 06/01/27 Series B  Aa2/AA-/NR   2,321,640 
     Portland, Oregon Water System        
     Revenue Refunding (Sr. Lien)        
 1,275,000   4.000%, 05/01/25 Series A  Aaa/NR/NR   1,328,219 
     Portland, Oregon Water System Revenue        
     Refunding (Jr. Lien)        
 2,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/23  Aa1/NR/NR   2,275,680 
     Salem, Oregon Water & Sewer Revenue        
     Refunding        
 3,500,000   5.000%, 06/01/25  Aa2/NR/NR   4,115,510 
     Seaside, Oregon Wastewater System        
 1,000,000   4.250%, 07/01/26  A3/NR/NR   1,051,300 
     Tigard, Oregon Water System        
     Revenue Refunding        
 2,565,000   5.000%, 08/01/24  Aa3/AA-/NR   2,855,384 

 

19 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Revenue Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Water & Sewer (continued)      
     Washington County, Oregon Clean Water        
     Services Sewer (Senior Lien)        
$1,010,000   4.000%, 10/01/22 Series B  Aa1/AAA/NR  $1,080,670 
 1,500,000   4.000%, 10/01/23 Series B  Aa1/AAA/NR   1,603,380 
 2,850,000   4.000%, 10/01/26 Series B  Aa1/AAA/NR   2,996,091 
 2,745,000   4.000%, 10/01/28 Series B  Aa1/AAA/NR   2,863,227 
     Woodburn, Oregon Wastewater        
     Revenue Refunding        
 1,090,000   5.000%, 03/01/21 Series A  A2/NR/NR   1,180,721 
     Total Water and Sewer      46,347,292 
     Total Revenue Bonds      180,756,593 
              
     Pre-Refunded Bonds (21.2%)††        
     Pre-Refunded General Obligation        
     Bonds (10.4%)        
     City & County (0.3%)        
     City of Salem, Oregon        
 1,750,000   5.000%, 06/01/29  NR/AA/NR   1,817,323 
              
     Community Colleges (1.9%)        
     Chemeketa, Oregon Community        
     College District        
 1,010,000   5.500%, 06/15/24  NR/AA+/NR   1,018,110 
 1,235,000   5.000%, 06/15/25  NR/AA+/NR   1,243,694 
 1,540,000   5.000%, 06/15/26  NR/AA+/NR   1,550,842 
     Portland, Oregon Community        
     College District        
 7,915,000   5.000%, 06/15/28  Aa1/AA+/NR   8,234,370 
     Total Community Colleges      12,047,016 
              
     Higher Education (0.8%)        
     Oregon State, Oregon University        
     System Projects        
 2,365,000   4.000%, 08/01/26 Series H  Aa1/AA+/AA+   2,532,418 
     State of Oregon Board of Higher        
     Education        
 1,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/34  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,011,470 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/38  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,011,470 
 500,000   5.750%, 08/01/29 Series A  Aa1/AA+/NR   506,955 
     Total Higher Education      5,062,313 

 

20 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
       
     School Districts (5.7%)        
     Clackamas County, Oregon School        
     District #46 (Oregon Trail)        
$1,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/22  NR/AA+/NR  $1,040,350 
 1,865,000   5.000%, 06/15/28 Series A  NR/AA+/NR   1,940,253 
 1,800,000   5.000%, 06/15/29 Series A  NR/AA+/NR   1,872,630 
 2,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/32 Series A  NR/AA+/NR   2,080,700 
 3,780,000   4.750%, 06/15/32 Series A  NR/AA+/NR   3,921,334 
     Clackamas & Washington Counties,        
     Oregon School District No. 3JT        
     (West Linn-Wilsonville)        
 1,110,000   5.000%, 06/15/26  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,154,111 
 2,850,000   5.000%, 06/15/27  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,963,259 
 2,000,000   4.500%, 06/15/29  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,067,660 
 1,965,000   5.000%, 06/15/30  Aa1/AA+/NR   2,043,089 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/33  Aa1/AA+/NR   3,119,220 
 500,000   5.000%, 06/15/34  Aa1/AA+/NR   519,870 
     Columbia & Washington Counties,        
     Oregon School District #47J        
     (Vernonia)        
 3,430,000   5.00%, 06/15/27  NR/AA+/NR   3,671,781 
     Deschutes and Jefferson Counties,        
     Oregon School District #02J        
     (Redmond)        
 5,000,000   6.000%, 06/15/31  Aa1/NR/NR   5,044,600 
     Jackson County, Oregon School District        
     #549C (Medford)        
 1,000,000   4.625%, 06/15/27  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,005,990 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/33  Aa1/AA+/NR   1,006,730 
     Washington County, Oregon School        
     District #48J (Beaverton)        
 1,280,000   5.000%, 06/01/31 AGC Insured  Aa2/AA/NR   1,329,997 
 1,000,000   5.125%, 06/01/36 AGC Insured  Aa2/AA/NR   1,040,490 
     Total School Districts      35,822,064 
              
     Special Districts (0.2%)        
     Tualatin Hills, Oregon Park &        
     Recreational District        
 1,000,000   4.250%, 06/01/24  Aa1/AA/NR   1,030,460 

 

21 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   State (1.5%)      
     State of Oregon Alternative        
     Energy Project        
$1,255,000   4.750%, 04/01/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/AA+  $1,294,357 
 500,000   6.000%, 10/01/29 Series B  Aa1/AA+/AA+   510,940 
     State of Oregon Department of        
     Administrative Services        
 5,000,000   5.125%, 05/01/33  Aa2/AA/AA   5,188,600 
     State of Oregon Department of        
     Administrative Services COP        
 1,455,000   5.000%, 11/01/27 Series C  NR/NR/NR   1,528,492 
 960,000   5.000%, 11/01/28 Series C  NR/NR/NR   1,008,490 
     Total State      9,530,879 
     Total Pre-Refunded General        
     Obligation Bonds      65,310,055 
              
     Pre-Refunded Revenue Bonds (10.8%)        
     City & County (0.4%)        
     Local Oregon Capital Assets Program        
     COP Cottage Grove        
 2,375,000   5.000%, 09/15/25 Series 2013A  Baa1/NR/NR   2,618,865 
              
     Electric (1.3%)        
     Eugene, Oregon Electric Utility        
 5,635,000   5.000%, 08/01/30  Aa2/AA-/AA-   5,699,633 
     Eugene, Oregon Electric Utility        
     Refunding System        
 2,000,000   5.000%, 08/01/27 Series A  Aa2/AA-/AA-   2,205,780 
     Total Electric      7,905,413 
              
     Higher Education (1.5%)        
     Oregon State Facilities Authority Revenue        
     Refunding (Reed College Project)        
 1,500,000   5.000%, 07/01/29 Series A  Aa2/AA-/NR   1,609,200 
     Oregon State Facilities Authority        
     (University of Portland)        
 3,000,000   5.000%, 04/01/32  NR/A-/NR   3,000,000 
     Portland, Oregon Economic        
     Development (Broadway Project)        
 5,000,000   6.500%, 04/01/35  A1/NR/NR   5,120,400 
     Total Higher Education      9,729,600 

 

22 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Hospitals (1.7%)      
     Deschutes County, Oregon Hospital        
     Facilities Authority (Cascade Health)        
$3,500,000   8.000%, 01/01/28  A2/NR/NR  $3,660,685 
     Oregon Health Sciences University        
 4,500,000   5.750%, 07/01/39 Series A  Aa3/AA-/NR   4,726,215 
     Salem, Oregon Hospital Facility        
     Authority (Salem Hospital)        
 2,000,000   5.750%, 08/15/23  NR/A+/AA-   2,030,020 
     Total Hospitals      10,416,920 
              
     Lottery (1.5%)        
     Oregon State Department of        
     Administration Services        
     (Lottery Revenue)        
 6,285,000   5.250%, 04/01/26  NR/NR/NR*   6,906,649 
 2,500,000   5.000%, 04/01/29  Aa2/AAA/NR   2,584,525 
     Total Lottery      9,491,174 
              
     Transportation (2.3%)        
     Oregon State Department Transportation        
     Highway Usertax (Senior Lien)        
 1,865,000   5.000%, 11/15/23 Series A  Aa1/AAA/NR   1,935,292 
 2,000,000   4.625%, 11/15/25 Series A  Aa1/AAA/NR   2,067,120 
 1,000,000   5.000%, 11/15/26 Series A  Aa1/AAA/AA+   1,152,870 
     Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation        
     District, Oregon Capital Grant Receipt        
 1,685,000   5.000%, 10/01/24 Series A  A3/A/NR   1,862,599 
 3,480,000   5.000%, 10/01/26 Series A  A3/A/NR   3,846,792 
 3,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/27 Series A  A3/A/NR   3,316,200 
     Total Transportation      14,180,873 
              
     Water & Sewer (2.1%)        
     Lane County, Oregon Metropolitan        
     Wastewater        
 2,500,000   5.250%, 11/01/28  Aa2/AA/NR   2,553,700 
     Portland Oregon Sewer System        
     Refunding (Second Lien)        
 5,000,000   5.000%, 06/15/33 Series B  Aa2/AA-/NR   5,035,200 

 

23 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

      Rating   
      Moody’s, S&P   
Principal     and Fitch   
Amount  Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)  (unaudited)  Value
          
   Water & Sewer (continued)      
     Prineville, Oregon Refunding          
$1,255,000   4.400%, 06/01/29 AGMC Insured   NR/AA/NR    $1,353,191 
     Washington County, Oregon Clean          
     Water Services Sewer          
 4,000,000   5.000%, 10/01/28   Aa1/AAA/NR     4,198,200 
     Total Water and Sewer        13,140,291 
     Total Pre-Refunded Revenue Bonds        67,483,136 
     Total Pre-Refunded Bonds        132,793,191 
     Total Investments          
     (cost $606,958,348-note 4)   97.9%   613,796,099 
     Other assets less liabilities   2.1    13,257,310 
     Net Assets   100.0%  $627,053,409 

 

   Percent of
Portfolio Distribution By Quality Rating (unaudited)  Investments †
Aaa of Moody’s or AAA of S&P   18.9 %
Pre-refunded bonds††   21.6  
Aa of Moody’s or AA of S&P or Fitch   53.1  
A of Moody’s or S&P or Fitch   4.9  
Baa of Moody’s or BBB of S&P   1.5  
    100.0 %

 

  PORTFOLIO ABBREVIATION:  
  AGC - Assured Guaranty Corp.  
  AGMC - Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.  
  COP- Certificates of Participation  
  FGIC - Financial Guaranty Insurance Co.  
  MAC - Municipal Assurance Corp.  
  NPFG - National Public Finance Guarantee  
  NR - Not Rated  
  ODOT - Oregon Department of Transportation  

 

24 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

  * Any security not rated (“NR”) by any of the Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSRO”) has been determined by the Investment Sub-Adviser to have sufficient quality to be ranked in the top four credit ratings if a credit rating were to be assigned by a NRSRO.  
       
  Where applicable, calculated using the highest rating of the three NRSROs.  
       
  †† Pre-refunded bonds are bonds for which U.S. Government Obligations usually have been placed in escrow to retire the bonds at their earliest call date.  
       
    Note: 144A – Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

25 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

YEAR MARCH 31, 2018 31, 2017

 

ASSETS   
Investments at value (cost $606,958,348)  $613,796,099 
Cash   5,904,662 
Interest receivable   8,527,529 
Receivable for Trust shares sold   121,596 
Other assets   58,572 
Total assets   628,408,458 
      
LIABILITIES     
Payable for Trust shares redeemed   676,795 
Dividends payable   236,782 
Management fees payable   209,610 
Distribution and service fees payable   1,274 
Accrued expenses payable   230,588 
Total liabilities   1,355,049 
      
NET ASSETS  $627,053,409 
Net Assets consist of:     
Capital Stock - Authorized an unlimited number of shares, par     
value $0.01 per share  $580,261 
Additional paid-in capital   620,521,998 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments (note 4)   6,837,751 
Undistributed net investment income   310,752 
Accumulated net realized loss on investments   (1,197,353)
   $627,053,409 
CLASS A     
Net Assets  $389,669,448 
Capital shares outstanding   36,047,639 
Net asset value and redemption price per share  $10.81 
Maximum offering price per share (100/96 of $10.81)  $11.26 
      
CLASS C     
Net Assets  $28,359,280 
Capital shares outstanding   2,626,009 
Net asset value and offering price per share  $10.80 
Redemption price per share (* a charge of 1% is imposed on the     
redemption proceeds, or on the original price, whichever is     
lower, if redeemed during the first 12 months after purchase)  $10.80*
      
CLASS Y     
Assets  $209,024,681 
Capital shares outstanding   19,352,442 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share  $10.80 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

26 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2018

 

Investment Income:         
          
Interest income       $19,569,424 
          
Expenses:         
          
Management fee (note 3)  $2,562,558     
Distribution and service fees (note 3)   948,167     
Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees   298,147     
Trustees’ fees and expenses (note 6)   292,906     
Legal fees   222,862     
Registration fees and dues   56,050     
Shareholders’ reports and proxy statements   51,586     
Auditing and tax fees   28,100     
Insurance   27,017     
Custodian fees   20,224     
Chief compliance officer services (note 3)   11,114     
Miscellaneous   55,252     
Total expenses   4,573,983     
          
Management fees waived (note 3)   (48,128)    
Net expenses        4,525,855 
Net investment income        15,043,569 
          
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments:         
          
Net realized gain (loss) from securities         
transactions   167,934     
Change in unrealized appreciation on         
investments   (10,825,870)    
          
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on         
investments        (10,657,936)
Net change in net assets resulting from          
operations       $4,385,633 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

27 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Year Ended  Year Ended
   March 31, 2018  March 31, 2017
OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income  $15,043,569   $16,352,018 
Net realized gain (loss) from          
securities transactions   167,934    (542,744)
Change in unrealized appreciation          
on investments   (10,825,870)   (21,619,220)
Change in net assets resulting          
from operations   4,385,633    (5,809,946)
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (note 9):          
Class A Shares:          
Net investment income   (9,508,309)   (10,085,312)
           
Class C Shares:          
Net investment income   (501,190)   (594,605)
           
Class Y Shares:          
Net investment income   (4,927,256)   (5,031,747)
Change in net assets from          
distributions   (14,936,755)   (15,711,664)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (note 7):          
Proceeds from shares sold   113,571,724    146,036,358 
Reinvested dividends and          
distributions   12,271,877    12,930,374 
Cost of shares redeemed   (125,934,967)   (135,047,621)
Change in net assets from          
capital share transactions   (91,366)   23,919,111 
           
Change in net assets   (10,642,488)   2,397,501 
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   637,695,897    635,298,396 
End of period*  $627,053,409   $637,695,897 
           
* Includes undistributed net investment income of:  $310,752   $197,217 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

28 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2018

 

1. Organization

 

     Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the “Trust”) (from inception until the close of business on October 11, 2013, the Trust operated under the name Tax-Free Trust of Oregon) is the sole portfolio of The Cascades Trust. The Cascades Trust (the “Business Trust”) is an open-end investment company, which was organized on October 17, 1985, as a Massachusetts business trust and commenced operations on June 16, 1986. The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares. Class A Shares are sold at net asset value plus a sales charge of varying size (depending upon a variety of factors) paid at the time of purchase and bear a distribution fee. Class C Shares are sold at net asset value with no sales charge payable at the time of purchase but with a level charge for service and distribution fees for six years thereafter. Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares after six years. Class Y Shares are sold only through authorized financial institutions acting for investors in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or similar capacity, and are not offered directly to retail customers. Class Y Shares are sold at net asset value with no sales charge, no redemption fee, no contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) and no distribution fee. As of the date of this report, there were no Class F Shares or Class T Shares outstanding. All classes of shares represent interests in the same portfolio of investments and are identical as to rights and privileges but differ with respect to the effect of sales charges, the distribution and/or service fees borne by each class, expenses specific to each class, voting rights on matters affecting a single class and the exchange privileges of each class.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

     The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for investment companies.

 

a)Portfolio valuation: Municipal securities are valued each business day based upon information provided by a nationally prominent independent pricing service and periodically verified through other pricing services. In the case of securities for which market quotations are readily available, securities are valued by the pricing service at the mean of bid and ask quotations. If a market quotation or a valuation from the pricing service is not readily available, the security is valued at fair value determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees.

 

b)Fair value measurements: The Trust follows a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Trust’s own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of the Trust’s investments and are summarized in the following fair value hierarchy:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access.

 

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

 

29 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

     AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Trust’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, based on the best information available.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

The following is a summary of the valuation inputs, representing 100% of the Trust’s investments, used to value the Trust’s net assets as of March 31, 2018:

 

Valuation Inputs  Investments in Securities
Level 1 – Quoted Prices  $ 
Level 2 – Other Significant Observable     
Inputs – Municipal Bonds*   613,796,099 
Level 3 – Significant Unobservable Inputs    
Total  $613,796,099 

 

*See schedule of investments for a detailed listing of securities.

 

c)Subsequent events: In preparing these financial statements, the Trust has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date these financial statements were issued.

 

d)Securities transactions and related investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are reported on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded daily on the accrual basis and is adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of original issue and market discount.

 

e)Federal income taxes: It is the policy of the Trust to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to certain investment companies. The Trust intends to make distributions of income and securities profits sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, Federal income and excise taxes.

 

Management has reviewed the tax positions for each of the open tax years (2015 –2017) or expected to be taken in the Fund’s 2018 tax returns and has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements.

 

f)Multiple class allocations: All income, expenses (other than class-specific expenses), and realized and unrealized gains or losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative net assets of each class. Class-specific expenses, which include distribution and service fees and any other items that are specifically attributed to a particular class, are also charged directly to such class on a daily basis.

 

g)Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

30 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

     AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

h)Reclassification of capital accounts: Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. On March 31, 2018, the Trust increased additional paid-in capital by $6,365, increased undistributed net investment income by $6,721 and increased accumulated net realized loss on investments by $13,086 These reclassificatiions had no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.

 

i)The Trust is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services-Investment Companies”.

 

3. Fees and Related Party Transactions

 

a) Management Arrangements:

 

     Aquila Investment Management LLC (the “Manager”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquila Management Corporation, the Trust’s founder and sponsor, serves as the Manager for the Trust under an Advisory and Administration Agreement with the Trust. The portfolio management of the Trust has been delegated to a Sub-Adviser as described below. Under the Advisory and Administrative Agreement, the Manager provides all administrative services to the Trust, other than those relating to the day-today portfolio management. The Manager’s services include providing the office of the Trust and all related services as well as overseeing the activities of the Sub-Adviser and managing relationships with all the various support organizations to the Trust such as the shareholder servicing agent, custodian, legal counsel, auditors and distributor and additionally maintaining the Trust’s accounting books and records. For its services, the Manager is entitled to receive a fee which is payable monthly and computed as of the close of business each day at the annual rate of 0.40% of net assets of the Trust. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its fees through September 30, 2018 to the extent necessary in order to pass savings through to the shareholders recognized under the Sub-Advisory Agreement (as described below) such that its fees are as follows: the annual rate shall be equivalent to 0.40% of net assets of the Trust up to $400 million; 0.38% of the Trust’s net assets above that amount to $1 billion and 0.36% of the Trust’s net assets above $1 billion. For the year ended March 31, 2018, the Trust incurred management fees of $2,562,558, of which $48,128 was waived.

 

     Kirkpatrick Pettis Capital Management (the “Sub-Adviser”) serves as the Investment Sub-Adviser for the Trust under a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. Under this agreement, the Sub-Adviser continuously provides, subject to oversight of the Manager and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the investment program of the Trust and the composition of its portfolio, arranges for the purchases and sales of portfolio securities, and provides for daily pricing of the Trust’s portfolio. For its services, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to receive a fee from the Manager which is payable monthly and computed as of the close of business each day at the annual rate of 0.18% of net assets of the Trust up to $400 million; 0.16% of net assets above $400 million up to $1 billion; and 0.14% of net assets above $1 billlion.

 

31 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

  

     AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

 

     Under a Compliance Agreement with the Manager, the Manager is compensated by the Trust for Chief Compliance Officer related services provided to enable the Trust to comply with Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

     Specific details as to the nature and extent of the services provided by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser are more fully defined in the Trust’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.

 

b) Distribution and Service Fees:

 

     The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the “Rule”) under the 1940 Act. Under one part of the Plan, with respect to Class A Shares, the Trust is authorized to make distribution fee payments to broker-dealers or others (“Qualified Recipients”) selected by Aquila Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), including, but not limited to, any principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Distributor has entered into written agreements contemplated by the Rule and which have rendered assistance in the distribution and/or retention of the Trust’s shares or servicing of shareholder accounts. The Trust makes payment of this distribution fee at the annual rate of 0.15% of the Trust’s average net assets represented by Class A Shares. For the year ended March 31, 2018, distribution fees on Class A Shares amounted to $608,690 of which the Distributor retained $27,072

 

     Under another part of the Plan, the Trust is authorized to make payments with respect to Class C Shares to Qualified Recipients which have rendered assistance in the distribution and/or retention of the Trust’s Class C shares or servicing of shareholder accounts. These payments are made at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Trust’s average net assets represented by Class C Shares and for the year ended March 31, 2018, amounted to $254,608. In addition, under a Shareholder Services Plan, the Trust is authorized to make service fee payments with respect to Class C Shares to Qualified Recipients for providing personal services and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts. These payments are made at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Trust’s average net assets represented by Class C Shares and for the year ended March 31, 2018, amounted to $84,869. The total of these payments made with respect to Class C Shares amounted to $339,477 of which the Distributor retained $78,427.

 

     Specific details about the Plans are more fully defined in the Trust’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.

 

     Under a Distribution Agreement, the Distributor serves as the exclusive distributor of the Trust’s shares. Through agreements between the Distributor and various brokerage and advisory firms (“financial intermediaries”), the Trust’s shares are sold primarily through the facilities of these financial intermediaries having offices within Oregon, with the bulk of any sales commissions inuring to such financial intermediaries. For the year ended March 31, 2018, total commissions on sales of Class A Shares amounted to $410,939 of which the Distributor received $76,347.

 

32 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

     AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

c) Transfer and shareholder servicing fees:

 

     The Trust occasionally compensates financial intermediaries in connection with the sub-transfer agency related services provided by such entities in connection with their respective Trust shareholders so long as the fees are deemed by the Board of Trustees to be reasonable in relation to (i) the value of the services and the benefits received by the Trust and certain shareholders; and (ii) the payments that the Trust would make to another entity to perform similar ongoing services to existing shareholders.

 

4. Purchases and Sales of Securities

 

     During the year ended March 31, 2018, purchases of securities and proceeds from the sales of securities aggregated $62,193,218 and $52,316,948, respectively.

 

     At March 31, 2018, the aggregate tax cost for all securities was $606,958,348. At March 31, 2018, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost amounted to $11,726,793 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value amounted to $4,889,042 for a net unrealized appreciation of $6,837,751.

 

5. Portfolio Orientation

 

     Since the Trust invests principally and may invest entirely in double tax-free municipal obligations of issuers within Oregon, it is subject to possible risks associated with economic, political, or legal developments or industrial or regional matters specifically affecting Oregon and whatever effects these may have upon Oregon issuers’ ability to meet their obligations. For example, Measure 5, a 1990 amendment to the Oregon Constitution, as well as Measures 47 and 50, limit the taxing and spending authority of certain Oregon governmental entities. These amendments could have an adverse effect on the general financial condition of certain municipal entities that would impair the ability of certain Oregon issuers to pay interest and principal on their obligations. At March 31, 2018, the Trust had 100% of its net assets invested in municipal obligations of issuers within Oregon.

 

6. Trustees’ Fees and Expenses

 

     At March 31, 2018, there were 8 Trustees, one of whom is affiliated with the Manager and is not paid any fees. The total amount of Trustees’ service fees (for carrying out their responsibilities) and attendance fees paid during the year ended March 31, 2018 was $239,851. Attendance fees are paid to those in attendance at regularly scheduled quarterly Board Meetings and meetings of the Independent Trustees held prior to each quarterly Board Meeting, as well as additional meetings (such as Audit, Nominating, Shareholder and special meetings). Trustees are reimbursed for their expenses such as travel, accommodations, and meals incurred in connection with attendance at Board Meetings and at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. For the year ended March 31, 2018, such meeting-related expenses amounted to $53,055.

 

33 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

     AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

7. Capital Share Transactions

 

     Transactions in Capital Shares of the Trust were as follows:

 

   Year Ended  Year Ended
   March 31, 2018  March 31, 2017
   Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount
Class A Shares:            
Proceeds from shares sold   3,092,150   $34,080,156    4,781,450   $53,679,014 
Reinvested dividends and                    
distributions   713,675    7,861,742    744,512    8,328,138 
Cost of shares redeemed   (5,408,758)   (59,588,486)   (4,847,261)   (53,927,875)
Net change   (1,602,933)   (17,646,588)   678,701    8,079,277 
                     
Class C Shares:                    
Proceeds from shares sold   322,543    3,558,945    1,007,183    11,352,526 
Reinvested dividends and                    
distributions   42,236    465,018    48,531    541,957 
Cost of shares redeemed   (1,204,350)   (13,258,515)   (762,522)   (8,480,153)
Net change   (839,571)   (9,234,552)   293,192    3,414,330 
                     
Class Y Shares:                    
Proceeds from shares sold   6,893,018    75,932,623    7,227,623    81,004,818 
Reinvested dividends and                    
distributions   358,934    3,945,117    363,045    4,060,279 
Cost of shares redeemed   (4,832,365)   (53,087,966)   (6,598,236)   (72,639,593)
Net change   2,419,587    26,789,774    992,432    12,425,504 
Total transactions in Trust                    
shares   (22,917)  $(91,366)   1,964,325   $23,919,111 

 

8. Securities Traded on a When-Issued Basis

 

     The Trust may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued basis. When-issued transactions arise when securities are purchased or sold by the Trust with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield to the Trust at the time of entering into the transaction. Beginning on the date the Trust enters into a when-issued transaction, cash or other liquid securities are segregated in an amount equal to or greater than the value of the when-issued transaction. These transactions are subject to market fluctuations and their current value is determined in the same manner as for other securities.

 

9. Income Tax Information and Distributions

 

     The Trust declares dividends daily from net investment income and makes payments monthly. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed annually and are taxable. These distributions are paid in additional shares at the net asset value per share or in cash, at the shareholder’s option.

 

     The Trust intends to maintain, to the maximum extent possible, the tax-exempt status of interest payments received from portfolio municipal securities in order to allow dividends paid to shareholders from net investment income to be exempt from regular Federal and State of Oregon income taxes. Due to differences between financial statement reporting and Federal income tax reporting requirements, distributions made by the Trust may not be the same as the Trust’s net investment income, and/ or net realized securities gains. Further, a portion of the dividends may, under some circumstances, be subject to taxes at ordinary income and/or capital gain rates. As a result of the passage of the Regulated Investment Company Act of 2010 (the “Act”), losses incurred in this fiscal year and beyond retain their character as short-term or long-term, have no expiration date and are utilized before capital losses incurred prior to the enactment of the Act. At March 31, 2018, the Trust had capital loss carryover of $923,852 which is short-term and has no expiration date. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the Trust utilized $428,349 of capital loss carryforward.

 

34 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

     AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2018

 

     The tax character of distributions was as follows:

 

   Year  Year
   Ended  Ended
   March 31, 2018  March 31, 2017
Net tax-exempt income  $14,836,316   $15,681,897 
Ordinary income   100,439    29,767 
   $14,936,755   $15,711,664 

 

     As of March 31, 2018 the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Unrealized appreciation  $6,837,751         
Undistributed tax-exempt income   547,534         
Accumulated net loss on investments   (923,852)        
Post October losses   (273,501)        
Other temporary differences   (236,783)        
   $5,951,149         

 

     The difference between book basis and tax basis undistributed income is due to the timing difference, and other temporary differences, in recognizing dividends paid, Post October losses, the tax treatment of market discount amortization, and the deduction of distributions payable.

 

10. Credit Facility

 

     Effective August 30, 2017, the Bank of New York Mellon and the Aquila Group of Funds became parties to a $40 million credit agreement, which currently terminates on August 29, 2018.  In accordance with the Aquila Group of Funds Guidelines for Allocation of Committed Line of Credit (the Aquila Group of Funds is comprised of nine funds), each fund is responsible for payment of its proportionate share of

 

a)a 0.15% per annum commitment fee; and,

 

b)interest on amounts borrowed for temporary or emergency purposes by the Trust (at the applicable rate selected by the Aquila Group of Funds at the time of the borrowing of either (i) the one-month Eurodollar Rate or (ii) a rate equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day, or (c) the Overnight Eurodollar Rate in effect on such day).

 

     There were no borrowings under the credit agreement for the period ended March 31, 2018.

 

35 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

     For a share outstanding throughout each period

 

   Class A
 
   Year Ended March 31,
   2018  2017  2016  2015  2014
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.99   $11.33   $11.31   $11.01   $11.37 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                         
Net investment income(1)   0.26    0.28    0.31    0.33    0.35 
Net gain (loss) on securities (both                         
realized and unrealized)   (0.18)   (0.35)   0.01    0.30    (0.36)
Total from investment operations   0.08    (0.07)   0.32    0.63    (0.01)
Less distributions (note 9):                         
Dividends from net investment income   (0.26)   (0.27)   (0.30)   (0.33)   (0.35)
Distributions from capital gains                   (2)
Total distributions   (0.26)   (0.27)   (0.30)   (0.33)   (0.35)
Net asset value, end of period  $10.81   $10.99   $11.33   $11.31   $11.01 
Total return (not reflecting sales charge)   0.68%   (0.66)%   2.91%   5.80%   (0.04)%
Ratios/supplemental data                         
Net assets, end of period (in millions)  $390   $414   $419   $398   $385 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets   0.71%   0.73%   0.74%   0.74%   0.73%
Ratio of net investment income to                         
average net assets   2.35%   2.48%   2.72%   2.96%   3.16%
Portfolio turnover rate   8%   13%   7%   5%   5%
                          
Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual waiver of management fees were (note 3):
                          
Ratio of expenses to average net assets   0.72%   0.74%   0.74%   0.74%   0.74%
Ratio of net investment income to                         
average net assets   2.34%   2.47%   2.72%   2.96%   3.16%

 

_________________________ 

(1)Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.
(2)Amount represents less than $0.01.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

36 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

 

     For a share outstanding throughout each period

 

   Class C
 
   Year Ended March 31,
   2018  2017  2016  2015  2014
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.98   $11.32   $11.30   $11.00   $11.36 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                         
Net investment income(1)    0.16    0.18    0.21    0.24    0.25 
Net gain (loss) on securities (both                         
realized and unrealized)   (0.18)   (0.35)   0.02    0.30    (0.36)
Total from investment operations   (0.02)   (0.17)   0.23    0.54    (0.11)
Less distributions (note 9):                         
Dividends from net investment income   (0.16)   (0.17)   (0.21)   (0.24)   (0.25)
Distributions from capital gains                   (2)
Total distributions   (0.16)   (0.17)   (0.21)   (0.24)   (0.25)
Net asset value, end of period  $10.80   $10.98   $11.32   $11.30   $11.00 
Total return (not reflecting CDSC)   (0.18)%   (1.50)%   2.05%   4.91%   (0.89)%
Ratios/supplemental data                         
Net assets, end of period (in millions)  $28   $38   $36   $32   $29 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets   1.56%   1.59%   1.59%   1.58%   1.58%
Ratio of net investment income to                         
average net assets   1.49%   1.63%   1.86%   2.11%   2.31%
Portfolio turnover rate   8%   13%   7%   5%   5%
                          
Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual waiver of management fees were (note 3):
                          
Ratio of expenses to average net assets   1.57%   1.59%   1.59%   1.59%   1.59%
Ratio of net investment income to                         
average net assets   1.49%   1.62%   1.86%   2.10%   2.31%

 

_________________________ 

(1)Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.
(2)Amount represents less than $0.01.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

37 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

 

     For a share outstanding throughout each period

 

   Class Y
 
   Year Ended March 31,
   2018  2017  2016  2015  2014
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.98   $11.32   $11.30   $11.00   $11.36 
Income (loss) from investment operations:                         
Net investment income(1)    0.27    0.29    0.32    0.35    0.36 
Net gain (loss) on securities (both                         
realized and unrealized)   (0.18)   (0.35)   0.02    0.30    (0.36)
Total from investment operations   0.09    (0.06)   0.34    0.65     
Less distributions (note 9):                         
Dividends from net investment income   (0.27)   (0.28)   (0.32)   (0.35)   (0.36)
Distributions from capital gains                   (2)
Total distributions   (0.27)   (0.28)   (0.32)   (0.35)   (0.36)
Net asset value, end of period  $10.80   $10.98   $11.32   $11.30   $11.00 
Total return   0.83%   (0.51)%   3.08%   5.97%   0.11%
Ratios/supplemental data                         
Net assets, end of period (in millions)  $209   $186   $180   $126   $87 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets   0.56%   0.58%   0.59%   0.58%   0.58%
Ratio of net investment income to                         
average net assets   2.50%   2.63%   2.86%   3.10%   3.31%
Portfolio turnover rate   8%   13%   7%   5%   5%
                          
Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual waiver of management fees were (note 3):
                          
Ratio of expenses to average net assets   0.57%   0.59%   0.59%   0.59%   0.59%
Ratio of net investment income to                         
average net assets   2.49%   2.62%   2.86%   3.10%   3.31%

 

_________________________ 

(1)Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.
(2)Amount represents less than $0.01.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

38 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

               
Additional Information (unaudited)            
             
Trustees(1)                
and Officers   Number of    
    Positions   Portfolios    
    Held with   in Fund    
    Fund and   Principal   Complex(4)   Other Directorships
Name   Length of   Occupation(s)   Overseen   Held by Trustee
and Year of Birth(2)   Service(3)   During Past 5 Years   by Trustee   During Past 5 Years
                 
Interested Trustee(5)                
                 

Diana P. Herrmann

New York, NY

(1958)

  Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees since 2003, President since 1998 and Trustee since 1994   Chair (since 2016 and previously Vice Chair since 2004) and Chief Executive Officer (since 2004) of Aquila Management Corporation, Founder and Sponsor of the Aquila Group of Funds(6) and parent of Aquila Investment Management LLC, Manager, President since 1997, Chief Operating Officer, 1997-2008, a Director since 1984, Secretary since 1986 and previously its Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, 1986-1997; Chief Executive Officer (since 2004) and Chair (since 2016 and previously Vice Chair since 2004), President and Manager since 2003, and Chief Operating Officer (2003-2008), of the Manager; Chair, Vice Chair, President, Executive Vice President and/or Senior Vice President of funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 1986; Manager of the Distributor since 1997; Governor, Investment Company Institute (the U.S. mutual fund industry trade organization dedicated to protecting shareholder interests and educating the public about investing) for various periods since 2004, and Chair of its Small Funds Committee, 2004-2009; active in charitable and volunteer organizations.   11   Director of ICI Mutual Insurance Company, a Risk Retention Group, for various periods since 2006; formerly Vice Chair and Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three money-market funds in the Aquila Group of Funds) 2004-2012
                 
Non-Interested Trustees                
                 

James A. Gardner

Terrebonne, OR

(1943)

  Chair of the Board of Trustees since 2005 and Trustee since 1986   President, Gardner Associates, an investment and real estate firm, since 1989; Owner and Developer of Vandevert Ranch, Sunriver, Oregon since 1989; Founding Partner, Chairman Emeritus and previously Chairman (1991-2010), Ranch at the Canyons, Terrebonne, Oregon; President Emeritus and previously President (1981-1989), Lewis and Clark College and Law School; director, Oregon High Desert Museum, 1989-2003; active in civic, business and educational organizations in Oregon; writer on Native American and settlement history of Oregon.   1   None

 

39 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

               
Additional Information (unaudited)            
             
Trustees(1)                
and Officers   Number of    
    Positions   Portfolios    
    Held with   in Fund    
    Fund and   Principal   Complex(4)   Other Directorships
Name   Length of   Occupation(s)   Overseen   Held by Trustee
and Year of Birth(2)   Service(3)   During Past 5 Years   by Trustee   During Past 5 Years
                 
Non-Interested Trustees (cont’d)            
                 

Gary C. Cornia

St. George, UT

(1948)

  Trustee since 2002   Emeritus Dean and Professor, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University 2014-present; Professor, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, 1980-2014; Commissioner, Utah State Securities Commission, 2013–present; Dean, Marriott School of Management, 2008-2013; Director, Romney Institute of Public Management, Marriott School of Management, 2004-2008; Past President, National Tax Association; Fellow, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2002-present; Associate Dean, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, 1991-2000; member, Utah Governor’s Tax Review Committee, 1993-2009.   8   International Center for Land Policies and Training, Taipei, Taiwan, Director and Chair of Executive Committee
                 

Henry H. Hewitt

Bend, OR

(1941)

  Trustee since 2015   Senior Counsel, Stoel Rives LLP, a Portland law firm, since 2011; (Retired 2015) Partner 1975-2011.   1   Columbia Forest Products; Hampton Affiliates (timber products) ; Life Trustee, Willamette University; Friends of the Children (child mentoring); former director: Cascade Bancorp and Bank of the Cascades
                 

Edmund P. Jensen

Portland, OR

(1937)

  Trustee since 2003   President and CEO, VISA International, 1994-1999; Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, US Bancorp, 1974-1994.   1   Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR; former director: FiveCubits, Inc. (formerly BMG Seltec), a software company

 

40 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

               
Additional Information (unaudited)            
             
Trustees(1)                
and Officers   Number of    
    Positions   Portfolios    
    Held with   in Fund    
    Fund and   Principal   Complex(4)   Other Directorships
Name   Length of   Occupation(s)   Overseen   Held by Trustee
and Year of Birth(2)   Service(3)   During Past 5 Years   by Trustee   During Past 5 Years
                 
Non-Interested Trustees (cont’d)            
                 

John W. Mitchell

Lake Oswego, OR

(1944)

  Trustee since 1999   Principal of M & H Economic Consultants; Economist, Western Region, for U.S. Bancorp 1998-2007; Chief Economist, U.S. Bancorp, Portland, Oregon, 1983-1998; member, Oregon Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, 1984-1998; Chairman, Oregon Governor’s Technical Advisory Committee for Tax Review in 1998.   1   Oregon Mutual Insurance; Western Capital Corporation; Northwest Bank.
                 

Patricia L. Moss

Bend, OR

(1953)

  Trustee since 2015, 2002-2005; Trustee Emerita 2005-2015   Director, First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. since May 2017; Vice Chairman, Cascade Bancorp and Bank of the Cascades 2012-2017, President and Chief Executive Officer 1997-2012; active in community and educational organizations.   1   MDU Resources Group; Co-Chair, Oregon Growth Board; formerly board member, North Pacific Group (building materials), and Central Oregon Independent Health Services
                 

Ralph R. Shaw

Portland, OR

(1938)

  Trustee since 2000   President, Shaw Management Company, an investment counseling firm, 1980-present; General Partner, Shaw Venture Partners, 1983-2005; Shaw Venture Partners II, 1987-2005; Shaw Venture Partners III, 1994-2005.   1   Former director: FiveCubits, Inc. (formerly BMG Seltec); Rentrak Corporation

 

(1) The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 800-437-1020 (toll-free) or by visiting www.aquilafunds.com or the EDGAR Database at the SEC’s internet site at www.sec.gov.

 

(2) The mailing address of each Trustee is c/o Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, 120 West 45th Street, Suite 3600, New York, NY 10036.

 

(3) Each Trustee holds office until his or her successor is elected or his or her earlier retirement or removal. (4) Includes certain Aquila-sponsored funds that are dormant and have no public shareholders.

 

(5) Ms. Herrmann is an “interested person” of the Trust, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an officer of the Trust, as a director, officer and shareholder of the Manager’s corporate parent, as an officer and Manager of the Manager, and as a Manager of the Distributor.

 

(6) The “Aquila Group of Funds” includes: Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Aquila Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Aquila Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund (Rhode Island) and Aquila Tax-Free Fund For Utah, each of which is a tax-free municipal bond fund and are called the “Aquila Municipal Bond Funds”; Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund, which is an equity fund; and Aquila Three Peaks High Income Fund, which is a high-income corporate bond fund.

 

41 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

       
    Positions    
    Held with    
    Trust and    
Name   Length of    
and Year of Birth(1)   Service(2)   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years(3)
         
Trustee        
Emeritus(4)        
         

Vernon R. Alden

Boston, MA

(1923)

  Trustee Emeritus since 2006   Retired; former director or trustee of various Fortune 500 companies, including Colgate-Palmolive and McGraw Hill; formerly President of Ohio University and Associate Dean of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration; Trustee, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund, 1992-2006, Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, 1988-2001, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, 1989-2001, and Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three money-market funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, consisting of Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital U.S. Government Securities Cash Assets Trust), 1989-2001; Trustee Emeritus, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund and Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon since 2006; member of several Japan-related advisory councils, including Chairman of the Japan Society of Boston; trustee of various cultural, educational and civic organizations.
         
Officers        
         

Charles E. Childs, III

New York, NY

(1957)

  Executive Vice President since 2003 and Secretary since 2011   Executive Vice President of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds and the Manager and the Manager’s parent since 2003; Chief Operating Officer of the Manager and the Manager’s parent since 2008; Secretary of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2011; formerly Senior Vice President, corporate development, Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Associate of the Manager’s parent since 1987; Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President or Assistant Vice President of the Aquila money-market funds, 1988-2012; Manager of the Distributor since 2012.
         

Marie E. Aro

New York, NY

(1955)

  Senior Vice President since 2010   Co-President, Aquila Distributors LLC since 2010, Vice President, 1993-1997; Senior Vice President, Aquila Municipal Trust (since 2013), Aquila Funds Trust (since 2013), Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Arizona (since 2010 and Vice President, 2004-2010), Aquila Three Peaks High Income Fund (since 2006), Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust and Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (since 2010), Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund (2004-2013) and Aquila Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund, Aquila Tax-Free Fund For Utah, and Aquila Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (2010-2013); Vice President, INVESCO Funds Group, 1998-2003.
         

Paul G. O’Brien

New York, NY

(1959)

  Senior Vice President since 2010   Co-President, Aquila Distributors LLC since 2010, Managing Director, 2009-2010; Senior Vice President of various funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2010 and all funds since 2013; held various positions to Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Evergreen Investments Services, Inc., 1997-2008; Mergers and Acquisitions Coordinator for Wachovia Corporation, 1994-1997.
         

Christine L. Neimeth

Portland, OR

(1964)

  Vice President since 1998   Vice President of Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund since 1999 and Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon since 1998.

 

42 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

       
    Positions    
    Held with    
    Trust and    
Name   Length of    
and Year of Birth(1)   Service(2)   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years(3)
         
Officers (cont’d)        
         

Randall S. Fillmore

New York, NY

(1960)

  Chief Compliance Officer since 2012   Chief Compliance Officer of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, the Manager and the Distributor since 2012; Managing Director, Fillmore & Associates, 2009-2012; Fund and Adviser Chief Compliance Officer (2002-2009), Senior Vice President - Broker Dealer Compliance (2004-2009), Schwab Funds Anti Money Laundering Officer and Identity Theft Prevention Officer (2004-2009), Vice President - Internal Audit (2000-2002), Charles Schwab Corporation; National Director, Information Systems Risk Management - Consulting Services (1999-2000), National Director, Investment Management Audit and Business Advisory Services (1992-1999), Senior Manager, Manager, Senior and Staff Roles (1983-1992), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
         

Joseph P. DiMaggio

New York, NY

(1956)

  Chief Financial Officer since 2003 and Treasurer since 2000   Chief Financial Officer of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2003 and Treasurer since 2000.
         

Yolonda S. Reynolds

New York, NY

(1960)

  Assistant Treasurer since 2010   Assistant Treasurer of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2010; Director of Fund Accounting for the Aquila Group of Funds since 2007.
         

Lori A. Vindigni

New York, NY

(1966)

  Assistant Treasurer since 2000   Assistant Treasurer of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2000; Assistant Vice President of the Manager or its predecessor and current parent since 1998; Fund Accountant for the Aquila Group of Funds, 1995-1998.

 

_________________

(1) The mailing address of each officer is c/o Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, 120 West 45th Street, Suite 3600, New York, NY 10036.

 

(2) The term of office of each officer is one year. 

 

(3) The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the officers and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 800-437-1020 (toll-free) or by visiting www.aquilafunds.com or the EDGAR Database at the SEC’s internet site at www.sec.gov.

 

(4) A Trustee Emeritus may attend Board meetings but has no voting power.

 

43 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

Your Trust’s Expenses (unaudited)

 

     As a Trust shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including front-end sales charges with respect to Class A shares or contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) with respect to Class C shares; and (2) ongoing costs including management fees; distribution “12b-1” and/or service fees; and other Fund expenses. The table below is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Trust and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The table below assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.

 

Actual Expenses

 

     The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information provided in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account, divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 ending account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During the Period”.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds

 

     Under the heading, “Hypothetical” in the table, information is provided about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Trust’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Trust’s actual return. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period, but it can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example for the class of shares you hold with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

     Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, information under the heading “Hypothetical” is useful comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your total costs would have been higher.

 

  Actual Hypothetical
  (actual return after expenses) (5% annual return before expenses)
      Expenses(2)   Expenses(2)  
  Beginning Ending(1) Paid During Ending Paid During Net
  Account Account Period Account Period Annualized
Share Value Value 10/1/17 – Value 10/1/17 – Expense
Class 10/1/17 3/31/18 3/31/18 3/31/18 3/31/18 Ratio
A $1,000 $987.90 $3.42 $1,021.49 $3.48 0.69%
C $1,000 $983.70 $7.67 $1,017.20 $7.80 1.55%
Y $1,000 $988.70 $2.73 $1,022.19 $2.77 0.55%

 

(1)Assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, at net asset value and does not reflect the deduction of the applicable sales charges with respect to Class A or the applicable CDSC with respect to Class C shares. Total return is not annualized and as such, it may not be representative of the total return for the year.

 

(2)Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for the six-month period as indicated above - in the far right column - multiplied by the simple average account value over the period indicated, and then multiplied by 182/365 to reflect the one-half year period.

 

44 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

Information Available (unaudited)

 

     Much of the information that the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds produce is automatically sent to you and all other shareholders. Specifically, you are routinely sent your Trust’s entire list of portfolio securities twice a year in the semi-annual and annual reports you receive. Additionally, under Trust policies, the Manager publicly discloses the complete schedule of the Trust’s portfolio holdings, as of each calendar quarter, generally by the 15th day after the end of each calendar quarter. Such information remains accessible until the next schedule is made publicly available. You may obtain a copy of the Trust’s portfolio holdings schedule for the most recently completed period by visiting the Trust’s website at www.aquilafunds.com. Whenever you wish to see a listing of your Trust’s portfolio other than in your shareholder reports, please check our website at www.aquilafunds.com or call us at 1-800-437-1000.

 

     The Trust additionally files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarter ends of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Forms N-Q are available free of charge on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. You may also review or, for a fee, copy the forms at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

Proxy Voting Record (unaudited)

 

     During the 12 month period ended June 30, 2017, there were no proxies related to any portfolio instruments held by the Trust. As such, the Trust did not vote any proxies. Applicable regulations require us to inform you that the Fund’s proxy voting information is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

 

 

Federal Tax Status of Distributions (unaudited)

 

     This information is presented in order to comply with a requirement of the Internal Revenue Code. No action on the part of shareholders is required.

 

     For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, $14,836,316 of dividends paid by Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, constituting 99.3% of total dividends paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, were exempt-interest dividends; and the balance was ordinary income.

 

     Prior to February 15, 2019, shareholders will be mailed the appropriate tax form(s) which will contain information on the status of distributions paid for the 2018 calendar year.

 

45 | Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon

 

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Founders

     Lacy B. Herrmann (1929-2012)

Aquila Management Corporation, Sponsor

 

Manager

AQUILA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC

120 West 45th Street, Suite 3600

New York, New York 10036

 

Investment Sub-Adviser

KIRKPATRICK PETTIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

222 SW Columbia Street, Suite 1400

Portland, Oregon 97201

 

Board of Trustees

     James A. Gardner, Chair

Diana P. Herrmann, Vice Chair

Gary C. Cornia

Henry H. Hewitt

Edmund P. Jensen

John W. Mitchell

Patricia L. Moss

Ralph R. Shaw

 

Officers

Diana P. Herrmann, President

Charles E. Childs, III, Executive Vice President and Secretary

Marie E. Aro, Senior Vice President

Paul G. O’Brien, Senior Vice President

Christine L. Neimeth, Vice President

Randall S. Fillmore, Chief Compliance Officer

Joseph P. DiMaggio, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Distributor

AQUILA DISTRIBUTORS LLC 120

West 45th Street, Suite 3600

New York, New York 10036

 

Transfer and Shareholder Servicing Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING (US) INC.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, Massachusetts 01581

 

Custodian

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

225 Liberty Street

New York, New York 10286

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP

1818 Market Street, Suite 2400

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

Further information is contained in the Prospectus,

which must precede or accompany this report.

 

 

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

 

(a) As of March 31, 2018 (the end of the reporting period) the Trust has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Trust's principal executive officer(s)and principal financial officer(s) and persons performing similar functions ("Covered Officers") as defined in the Aquila Group of Funds Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers under Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended;

 

(f)(1) Pursuant to Item 10(a)(1), a copy of the Trust's Code of Ethics that applies to the Trust's principal executive officer(s) and principal financial officer(s) and persons performing similar functions is included as an exhibit to its annual report on this Form N-CSR;

 

(f)(2) The text of the Trust's Code of Ethics that applies to the Trust's principal executive officer(s) and principal financial officer(s) and persons performing similar functions has been posted on its Internet website which can be found at the Trust's Internet address at aquilafunds.com.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

 

(a)(1)(i) The Registrant's board of trustees has determined that Ms. Patricia L. Moss, a member of its audit committee, is an audit committee financial expert. Ms. Moss is 'independent' as such term is defined in Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

 

a) Audit Fees - The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements were $23,400 in 2017 $24,600 in 2018.

 

b) Audit Related Fees - There were no amounts billed for audit-related fees over the past two years.

 

c) Tax Fees - The Registrant was billed by the principal accountant $3,500 and $3,500 in 2017 and 2018, respectively, for return preparation and tax compliance.

 

d) All Other Fees - There were no additional fees paid for audit and non-audit services other than those disclosed in a) thorough c) above.

 

e)(1) Currently, the audit committee of the Registrant pre-approves audit services and fees on an engagement-by-engagement basis

 

e)(2) None of the services described in b) through d) above were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, all were pre-approved on an engagement-by-engagement basis.

 

f) No applicable.

 

g) There were no non-audit services fees billed by the Registrant's accountant to the Registrant's investment adviser or distributor over the past two years

 

h) Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

 

Included in Item 1 above

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

The Board of Directors of the Registrant has adopted a Nominating Committee Charter which provides that the Nominating Committee (the 'Committee') may consider and evaluate nominee candidates properly submitted by shareholders if a vacancy among the Independent Trustees of the Registrant occurs and if, based on the Board's then current size, composition and structure, the Committee determines that the vacancy should be filled. The Committee will consider candidates submitted by shareholders on the same basis as it considers and evaluates candidates recommended by other sources. A copy of the qualifications and procedures that must be met or followed by shareholders to properly submit a nominee candidate to the Committee may be obtained by submitting a request in writing to the Secretary of the Registrant.

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a) Based on their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, the registrant's chief financial and executive officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the registrant are appropriately designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the registrant's reports that are filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are accumulated and communicated to registrant's management, including its principal executive officer(s) and principal financial officer(s), to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(b) There have been no significant changes in registrant's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect registrant's internal controls subsequent to the date of the most recent evaluation, including no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses that required corrective action.

 

 

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

 

(a)(1) Aquila Group of Funds Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers under Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

(a)(2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(b) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

THE CASCADES TRUST  
     
By: /s/ Diana P. Herrmann  
  Vice Chair, Trustee and President  
  June 7, 2018  
     
By: /s/ Joseph P. DiMaggio  
  Chief Financial Officer  
 

June 7, 2018 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 
     
By: /s/ Diana P. Herrmann  
  Diana P. Herrmann  
  Vice Chair, Trustee and President  
  June 7, 2018  
     
By: /s/ Joseph P. DiMaggio  
  Joseph P. DiMaggio  
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  
  June 7, 2018  

 

 

THE CASCADES TRUST

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

(a)(1) Aquila Group of Funds Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers under Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

(a) (2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(b) Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.