N-CSR 1 a51385_cascades.htm THE CASCADES TRUST 03/31/2019 FORM N-CSR Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




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: 3/31/19


Date of reporting period: 3/31/19


FORM N-CSR






ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Annual Report

March 31, 2019


 

 

 

Beginning in March 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.


If you already receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (i.e. broker dealer or bank) or, if you invest directly with the Fund, by calling 1-800-437-1000.


You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest directly with the Fund, you can inform the Fund that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by calling 1-800-437-1000. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through a financial intermediary or all funds held with the Aquila Group of Funds if you invest directly.

 

 

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Aquila Tax-Free
Trust of Oregon


“Municipal Bond Fund
Investing – The Basics”


Serving Oregon investors since 1986

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May, 2019


Dear Fellow Shareholder:


We have found over the years that it never hurts to reinforce for shareholders the fundamentals of Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon. Therefore, this Annual Report letter is intended to provide you with a brief synopsis of the Trust’s objectives, how we seek to achieve those objectives and the benefits that your Trust provides to you as well as to your fellow Oregon residents.


The Trust’s stated objective is to seek to provide as high a level of current income exempt from Oregon state and regular federal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of capital.


In simple terms, Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon is managed to minimize, to the extent feasible, changes in the Net Asset Value of Trust shares. The high-quality, intermediate maturity strategy of the Trust was developed, and is adhered to, in an effort to manage and seek to minimize the range of share price variation.


Another benefit from an investment in Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon is the ability to earn monthly income that is double tax-free. Trust dividends can be used by you to help you pay your living expenses, or they can be reinvested in additional shares of the Trust, thereby providing you the opportunity to benefit from compounding.


How does Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon strive to ensure that its objective of capital preservation and tax-free income is accomplished?


The Trust’s investment strategy was developed to facilitate the management of particular types of risk. For example,


·

The average maturity of bonds in the Trust falls in the intermediate range in order to facilitate the management of interest rate risk since, over time, that portion of the yield curve tends to experience less volatility. More detailed information related to interest rate risk is available on our website (www.aquilafunds.com) at https://bit.ly/2EKr69I. The high credit quality of bonds in the Trust facilitates the management of credit risk. Bonds of investment grade quality, such as those held by the Trust, are considered, by the rating agencies, as being capable of making principal and interest payments as scheduled.


Another attribute of the Trust is diversification of the individual municipal bonds across various locations in the State and various kinds of projects. Not only does this help to reduce risk, but it also enhances the quality of life of all shareholders and other residents of the State and helps the economic development of Oregon.






NOT A PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT






We well recognize that you have entrusted your hard-earned dollars to our care. It is a responsibility which your Trustees and Management take very seriously. Rest assured that we intend to continue to do our utmost to merit your confidence.


Sincerely,


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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








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Aquila Tax-Free
Trust of Oregon


ANNUAL REPORT

Management Discussion


Serving Oregon investors since 1986

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U.S. Economy


U.S. economic data continues to be solid. 2018 exhibited a strong Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growth pace of 2.9%. While economic growth peaked during the second quarter of 2018 at 4.2% and then declined during the third and fourth quarters, it has since picked up (to 3.2%) during the first quarter of 2019. The U.S. labor market remains strong with a low 3.8% unemployment rate as of March, 2019, which is near the lowest level seen in the past 20 years.  As a result, wage growth is increasing and overall inflation has declined due to lower energy prices.  Consumer confidence is steadily declining as household spending and business fixed investments grow at a slower pace.  Overall, economic activity continues to expand at a moderate pace and labor market conditions remain solid as unemployment rates remain low.


The Treasury yield curve inverted at the end of March 2019 for the first time since July 2007, as the 10-year Treasury yield fell below the 3-month T-bills yield. The Federal Reserve (the “Fed) has paused with interest rate hikes, which are currently on hold for 2019, as it lowered its projected rate hikes in 2019 from two to zero. This move came amid the U.S. economy growing at trend with inflation close to target, low unemployment and a policy rate in a range of about neutral.


Furthermore, a global economic slowdown would place additional resistance on U.S. economic growth. In Asia, China’s economy shows signs of slowing as trade tensions create additional headwinds while the U.S. and China try to hammer out a trade deal. Japan’s economy contracted 2.6% in the third quarter of 2018 and rebounded in the fourth quarter to grow at 1.4% and risks are on the downside in 2019, due to Japan’s significant exposure to China. While across the Atlantic, Britain faces a challenging political environment as its Parliament has rejected Theresa May’s Brexit deal for the third time, potentially disrupting the European Union (“EU”) and British economies. EU retaliatory tariffs persist as a result of U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs.


Municipal Market


The more things change, the more they stay the same fits the evolution of the municipal (“Muni”) bond yield curve over the past 15-months. Early last year, the consensus within the Muni market was the Fed would proceed with continued rate hikes. However, the market’s opinion changed over the Fall and into Winter. Now many believe the possibility of a rate cut later this year is in the cards. As a result, the increases in yields experienced in 2018 have been reversed. The first quarter of 2019 was

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MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION (continued)


a particularly volatile period within the Muni market, primarily due to a combination of a continued supply imbalance and increased demand from individuals as a result of the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions, or SALT. The current Bloomberg municipal evaluated pricing yield curve is now only marginally steeper than it was at the beginning of 2018.


Several factors continue to support the increase in Muni demand:


1.

Munis represent one of the last refuges for providing tax-exempt income, both at the state and federal levels. Over the past quarter, analysts have credited the $10,000 cap on SALT deductions with driving demand in the municipal bond market for investors seeking tax-exempt income. According to Lipper U.S. Fund Flows, investors have added more money to municipal-focused mutual funds during 2019 than they have during any similar time-period since 1992. This influx of capital has helped sustain a five-month rally, driving Municipal/Treasury ratios to the lowest levels since 2001.

2.

State and local governments have generally recovered from the great recession ten years ago. Revenues have generally increased and credit ratings have improved for the most part.

3.

As stock price volatility increases, investors are reminded of the importance of diversifying their portfolio investments.

4.

The amount of new issue supply is not enough to satiate existing demand. According to SIFMA (the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) data, municipal bond issuance was down 24.5% for 2018 versus 2017. Furthermore, issuance is not rapidly increasing, even with the reduction in rates, as recent tax law changes eliminated the pre-refunding of existing issues.


Oregon Economy


Much like the national municipal bond market, the Oregon market struggled with a lack of issuance and strong demand during the 2018 calendar year. For 2018, Oregon issuers sold roughly 50% of the amount issued in 2017. This was largely due to the combination of a relatively anemic November 2017 ballot, which approved 48% of the amount of issues approved the previous year, and the elimination of advance refundings for 2018 under tax reform. Although advance refundings are still not permitted, the November 2018 election proved more bountiful than 2017, with a 60% improvement in approved bonds. As a result of the election results, we expect to see 2019 Oregon municipal supply expand versus 2018 levels. However, supply will likely continue to struggle versus prior years due to the elimination of advance refunding bonds. During the first quarter 2019, only 5.8% of the par amount has been issued for refunding issues, which is substantially less than prior years. For example, in 2016, almost 30% of the total par amount sold in Oregon was for refunding issues.

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MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION (continued)


In addition to a tight municipal bond market, Oregon also has a tight labor market. Oregon’s unemployment rate hit a low of 3.8% in August, which is Oregon’s lowest unemployment rate since comparable records began in 1976. Unemployment rates have since inched up to 4.4% in February, 2019. The State’s low unemployment has become an obstacle to job growth as good help is becoming increasingly difficult to find. The State of Oregon Employment Department recently reported that over the 12 month period ended February 28, 2019, 29,500 jobs, or 1.5%, were added. This rate is down from 1.9% in November and sits just below the national rate of 1.7%. Job gains were materially faster in Oregon from 2013 through 2017, with an average annual growth rate of 2.8%. One of the fastest growing sectors for employment in Oregon has been manufacturing, which added jobs at a rate of 3.4% in 2018. During 2018, employment growth was led by computer and electronic product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and primary metal manufacturing.


Despite the ongoing trade tensions with China, Oregon’s exports to China have not declined. China is currently the number one destination for Oregon made products. However, Oregon’s top exports, which include electrical and industrial machinery, are not subject to tariffs and are seeing ongoing gains in trade. In addition, Oregon’s exports to Canada have increased over the past 18 months ended February 28, 2019, primarily driven by heavy manufacturing exports including machinery, transportation equipment, and metals. Collectively, China and Canada account for over one-third of all Oregon exports. Our primary concern for exports is therefore not tariffs, but the potential impact on Oregon of a slow-down in the Chinese economy.


In the Oregon housing market, home price gains have been slowing as affordability concerns manifest due to elevated growth of 10% or more in recent years. According to the Regional Multiple Listing Service, the median home price in the Portland metro area was $399,900 in February, 2019 which is beyond what many first-time homebuyers can afford. As a result, the Portland-area S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Index rose by only 3.3% on a year-over-year basis through January, which is slower than national gains of 4.3% over the same period. This is the slowest pace Portland home prices have grown in the past 6 years. Portland’s below-average performance is a notable shift from just two years ago, when it led the major cities in home-price gains for almost a year. Portland home prices have appreciated 24% above the peak of the recession in 2008 and remain 79% above the trough of the housing crash. However, more sustainable growth may benefit the local economy in the long-run as affordability concerns persist.


Fund Performance


The total return for Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the “Trust”) A share class, based upon net asset value (“NAV”), was 3.90% for the year ended March 31, 2019. Please visit www.aquilafunds.com for additional performance information. The Bloomberg Barclays Quality Intermediate Index (the “Index”) returned 4.83% for the same period. The 2 primary factors for the Trust’s underperformance were the Trust’s shorter duration and its overweighting in pre-refunded securities. Another headwind to relative performance was that the Trust had less exposure to the hospital sector as we believe quality spreads have approached their lows in this cycle. As a part of our overall defensive portfolio strategy we have purposely maintained a heightened exposure to pre-refunded bonds as a source for liquidity and current yield. Factors that provided positive contributions to performance compared to the Index were an overweighting of securities in the 7-10 year range and a greater exposure to school district bonds.



3  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION (continued)


Fund Strategy


Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the “Trust”) is postured defensively with a 7.28 year average maturity, effective duration of 4.35 years and over 12% of the portfolio is allocated to pre-refunded bonds that are backed by U.S. Treasury securities. In addition, over 93% of the portfolio is rated in the AA category or higher. In recent months, we have begun to reduce the Trust’s holdings of short pre-refunded securities as interest rates on shorter securities declined more than longer maturities. We anticipate that the portfolio will most likely experience a slight lengthening of maturity and duration, as short pre-refunded bonds are sold or mature, and proceeds reinvested in the 10 to 13 year maturity range as we seek to take advantage of the steeper municipal yield curve. Over the next year, we expect the portfolio will continue to maintain its allocation to high quality, intermediate maturity, and liquid bonds with the objective of maximizing yield while maintaining credit quality and limiting interest rate volatility exposure. We believe our defensive strategy should perform well during the rapidly changing interest rate and credit environments. We intend to closely monitor the shape of the yield curve and credit spreads before making any portfolio adjustments. Although we expect to lengthen the portfolio slightly, we do not anticipate reducing credit quality until lower investment grade credits provide greater value.



                                                                                      

 

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.


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



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, 2019 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.


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Average Annual Total Return

for periods ended March 31, 2019

 

Class and Inception Date

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Since
Inception

 

Class A since 6/01/86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Maximum Sales Charge

 

(0.26)%

 

1.67%

 

3.10%

 

4.93%

 

Without Sales Charge

 

3.90 

 

2.50 

 

3.53 

 

5.06 

 

Class C since 4/5/96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With CDSC**

 

2.02 

 

1.64 

 

2.65 

 

3.29 

 

Without CDSC

 

3.02 

 

1.64 

 

2.65 

 

3.29 

 

Class F since 11/30/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Sales Charge***

 

N/A 

 

N/A 

 

N/A 

 

3.03 

 

Class Y since 4/5/96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Sales Charge

 

4.05 

 

2.66 

 

3.68 

 

4.33 

 

Bloomberg Barclays Quality Index

 

4.83 

 

2.68 

 

3.50 

 

5.14*

(Class A)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.40 

(Class C & Y)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.46 

(Class F)


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.

***  Period less than one year.



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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, 2019, 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, 2019, 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, 2019 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 30, 2019




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AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (55.1%)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

City & County (5.5%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bend, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,435,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/24  

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

$

2,604,646

 

 

 

Canby, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,060,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/27

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,126,176

 

1,405,000

 

4.000%, 12/01/24 AGMC Insured

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,493,501

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,135,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/24

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,219,648

 

 

 

Clatsop County, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

 

1,245,060

 

 

 

Gresham, Oregon Full Faith and Credit Refunding and Project Obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,545,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/23

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

 

1,745,325

 

 

 

Lake Oswego, Oregon Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,140,000

 

4.000%, 12/01/30

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

3,594,358

 

 

 

Lebanon, Oregon Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,050,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/24

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,177,869

 

1,165,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/25

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,365,380

 

 

 

McMinnville, Oregon Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,075,000

 

5.000%, 02/01/27

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

 

2,428,227

 

 

 

Multnomah County, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/30

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

3,673,440

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Limited Tax, Sellwood Bridge & Archive Space Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,640,000

 

4.000%, 04/01/29 2017 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,874,225

 

1,710,000

 

4.000%, 04/01/30 2017 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,931,873

 

1,775,000

 

4.000%, 04/01/31 2017 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,983,421

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Public Safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,345,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,610,476

 

2,130,000

 

4.125%, 06/01/26 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

2,138,648

 

 

 

Redmond, Oregon Full Faith and Credit Bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,140,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/34 Series B-1

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

 

1,381,737




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AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

City & County (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redmond, Oregon Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

$

735,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/23 Series A

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

$

811,616

 

 

 

Total City & County

 

 

 

 

33,405,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community College (4.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

1,087,195

 

 

 

Central Oregon Community College District

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,850,000

 

4.750%, 06/15/22  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,920,688

 

2,195,000

 

4.750%, 06/15/23  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,278,805

 

2,175,000

 

4.750%, 06/15/26  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,255,975

 

 

 

Chemeketa, Oregon Community College District

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,320,780

 

 

 

Clackamas, Oregon Community College District

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,405,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27 Series A

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,661,033

 

 

 

Columbia Gorge, Oregon Community College District, Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/24  

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,073,450

 

 

 

Lane, Oregon Community College

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,840,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/24  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,031,599

 

1,750,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/24

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,950,865

 

 

 

Linn Benton, Oregon Community College

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,520,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/27  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,793,646

 

 

 

Mount Hood, Oregon Community College District Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,865,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/27

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

 

2,247,493

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/29

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

 

1,197,780

 

 

 

Oregon Coast Community College District State

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,770,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25  

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,951,991




8  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Community College (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rogue, Oregon Community College District

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,375,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

$

1,541,499

 

 

 

Total Community College

 

 

 

 

25,312,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher Education (1.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Higher Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/25 Series C

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,167,720

 

1,795,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/27 Series C

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

2,090,547

 

 

 

Oregon State, Oregon University System

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,170,000

 

4.000%, 08/01/25 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,261,272

 

1,090,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/25 Series N

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,239,657

 

 

 

Total Higher Education

 

 

 

 

5,759,196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hospital (0.9%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific Communities Health District, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,220,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/29

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,443,431

 

1,060,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/30

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,247,609

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/31

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,166,730

 

1,200,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/32

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,396,440

 

 

 

Total Hospital

 

 

 

 

5,254,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School District (30.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benton & Linn Counties, Oregon School District #509J (Corvallis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,466,020

 

1,615,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,983,446

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon School District #12 (North Clackamas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,450,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25  

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,852,241

 

1,165,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25  

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,391,150

 

1,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/26

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,743,810

 

3,205,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/30

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,913,049




9  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

School District (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon School District #12 (North Clackamas) (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,725,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31  

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

$

5,736,481

 

1,100,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32  

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,350,954

 

2,160,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,645,309

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon School District #62 (Oregon City)

 

 

 

 

 

 

560,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/29 MAC Insured

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

 

639,643

 

1,310,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,605,457

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon School District #86 (Canby)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,800,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/24

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,988,028

 

1,110,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25 Series A

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,225,218

 

 

 

Clackamas & Washington Counties, Oregon School District No. 3JT (West Linn-Wilsonville)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/26  

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

4,168,045

 

5,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

6,527,070

 

1,115,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/28

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,321,609

 

 

 

Clatsop County, Oregon School District #1C (Astoria)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,080,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,343,790

 

1,590,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,979,995

 

1,215,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,505,263

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,239,930

 

1,115,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/34 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,371,840

 

 

 

Clatsop County, Oregon School District #10 (Seaside)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,226,370

 

 

 

Coos County, Oregon School District #9
(Coos Bay)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,035,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,266,302

 

 

 

Deschutes County, Oregon Administrative School District #1 (Bend - La Pine)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,000,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/30

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,379,470




10  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

School District (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deschutes County, Oregon School District #6 (Sisters)

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,735,000

 

5.250%, 06/15/19 AGMC Insured

 

A2/AA+/NR

 

$

1,748,151

 

1,030,000

 

5.250%, 06/15/21 AGMC Insured

 

A2/AA+/NR

 

 

1,111,123

 

 

 

Deschutes and Jefferson Counties, Oregon
School District #02J (Redmond)

 

 

 

 

 

 

80,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/21 NPFG/ FGIC Insured

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

80,208

 

1,025,000

 

zero coupon, 06/15/23  

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

946,987

 

 

 

Greater Albany School District #8J (Linn & Benton Counties)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/30

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,218,390

 

 

 

Hood River County, Oregon School District

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,260,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/30

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,521,753

 

2,400,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/31

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,645,856

 

 

 

Jefferson County, Oregon School
District #509J

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,400,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,584,618

 

 

 

Klamath County, Oregon School District

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,250,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/24

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,420,825

 

 

 

Lane County, Oregon School District #4J (Eugene) Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,130,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/23

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,188,805

 

2,850,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/24

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

3,058,249

 

2,765,000

 

3.000%, 06/15/24

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

2,945,195

 

4,575,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/26

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

5,333,489

 

 

 

Lane County, Oregon School District #19 (Springfield)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,179,920

 

1,735,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,057,883

 

 

 

Lane County, Oregon School District #69 (Junction City)

 

 

 

 

 

 

630,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

748,213

 

 

 

Lane & Douglas Counties, Oregon School
District #45J3

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,665,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/27 Series B

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

3,025,841




11  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

School District (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lincoln County, Oregon School District

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,370,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/24 Series A

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

$

2,487,007

 

 

 

Marion County, Oregon School District #103 (Woodburn)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,140,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

2,542,384

 

2,260,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/28

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

2,678,778

 

 

 

Marion & Clackamas Counties, Oregon School District #4J (Silver Falls)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,260,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/24

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,430,541

 

 

 

Marion & Polk Counties, Oregon School District #24J (Salem-Keizer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/30

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

6,212,800

 

1,350,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,664,563

 

 

 

Morrow County, Oregon School District #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,710,000

 

5.250%, 06/15/19 AGMC Insured

 

A2/AA+/NR

 

 

1,722,962

 

 

 

Multnomah County, Oregon School District #1J (Portland)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,970,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/26 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,538,785

 

 

 

Multnomah County, Oregon School District #7 (Reynolds)

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,680,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/26 Series A

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

6,749,430

 

1,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27 Series A

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,776,240

 

1,825,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/28 Series A

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

2,154,960

 

 

 

Multnomah County, Oregon School District #7 (Reynolds) Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,165,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/29

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

 

1,209,072

 

 

 

Multnomah County, Oregon School District #40 (David Douglas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/23 Series A

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,658,175

 

 

 

Multnomah and Clackamas Counties, Oregon School District #10 (Gresham-Barlow)

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,275,000

 

5.250%, 06/15/19 AGMC Insured

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

4,306,849

 

2,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,061,700




12  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

School District (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polk, Marion & Benton Counties, Oregon School District #13J (Central)

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,515,000

 

4.000%, 02/01/28  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

$

1,676,651

 

 

 

Tillamook & Yamhill Counties, Oregon School District #101 (Nestucca Valley)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,275,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,557,821

 

 

 

Union County, Oregon School District #1 (La Grande)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27  

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,181,590

 

 

 

Wasco County, Oregon School District #12 (The Dalles)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,790,000

 

5.500%, 06/15/20 AGMC Insured

 

A2/AA/NR

 

 

1,875,652

 

 

 

Washington County, Oregon School District #48J (Beaverton)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,750,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/25

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,942,913

 

2,275,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/23 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,444,920

 

5,290,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/24 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

5,673,102

 

3,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/25 Series 2014B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,492,540

 

3,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/28 Series 2014B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,462,390

 

1,845,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series 2014B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,120,661

 

1,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27 Series C

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,862,700

 

 

 

Washington & Clackamas Counties, Oregon School District #23J (Tigard)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,405,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/30  

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,928,208

 

 

 

Washington, Clackamas & Yamhill Counties, Oregon School District #88J

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,785,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

3,415,440

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,503,080

 

 

 

Washington, Multnomah & Yamhill Counties, Oregon School District #1J (Hillsboro)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,535,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/25

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,643,678

 

3,105,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/30

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

3,777,885

 

2,110,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

2,551,117




13  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

School District (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yamhill County, Oregon School
District #40 (McMinnville)

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,255,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/26  

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

$

2,458,717

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/29

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,121,800

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/30  

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,115,820

 

 

 

Total School Districts

 

 

 

 

180,686,927

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special District (4.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Park &
Recreational District

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,430,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/27

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

 

1,536,478

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon Fire District No. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,020,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/30

 

NR/AA/NR

 

 

1,152,008

 

2,705,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/31

 

NR/AA/NR

 

 

3,016,021

 

 

 

Metro, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/26 Series A

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

4,271,040

 

 

 

Tualatin Hills, Oregon Park & Recreational District

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,480,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/23

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

3,959,092

 

4,725,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/24

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

5,517,146

 

2,775,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/26

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

3,298,421

 

 

 

Tualatin Valley, Oregon Fire & Rescue
Rural Fire Protection District

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,235,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/26

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,289,575

 

1,170,000

 

4.000%, 06/01/27

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,219,421

 

 

 

Total Special District

 

 

 

 

25,259,202

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State (7.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State of Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

750,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/25 Series A

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

870,998

 

3,000,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/23 Series L

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

3,211,500

 

1,125,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/24 Series L

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,203,356

 

1,470,000

 

4.000%, 11/01/26 Series M

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,557,877

 

2,125,000

 

4.000%, 05/01/25 Series O

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

2,231,420




14  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

State (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State of Oregon Article XI-G Community College Projects

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,160,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/27 Series J

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

$

1,382,592

 

 

 

State of Oregon Article XI-G Higher Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

500,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/25 Series O

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

598,435

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/26 Series O

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,193,380

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/27 Series O

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,191,890

 

 

 

State of Oregon Article XI-M Seismic Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/30

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,198,900

 

 

 

State of Oregon Article XI-Q State Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,140,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/28

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

2,579,342

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/30

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,196,980

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/31

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

2,378,240

 

1,195,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/28 Series D

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,444,122

 

1,255,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/29 Series D

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,508,610

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/30 Series D

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,197,300

 

2,300,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/28 Series F

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

2,722,740

 

4,000,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/32 Series A

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

4,992,640

 

 

 

State of Oregon Department of Administrative Services COP

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,815,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/27 Series C  

 

Aa2/AA/AA

 

 

1,849,757

 

1,195,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/28 Series C  

 

Aa2/AA/AA

 

 

1,217,884

 

 

 

State of Oregon Department of Administrative Services, Oregon Opportunity Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,210,000

 

5.000%, 12/01/19

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

6,352,892

 

 

 

State of Oregon Higher Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/28 Series A

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,188,850

 

1,250,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/30 Series L

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,528,900

 

1,300,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/32 Series L

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,574,768

 

 

 

Total State

 

 

 

 

46,373,373




15  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

General Obligation Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Transportation (1.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Department Transportation Highway Usertax (Senior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

$

5,000,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AAA/AA+

 

$

6,117,100

 

 

 

State of Oregon ODOT Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,020,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/30 Series M

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

1,240,085

 

 

 

Total Transportation

 

 

 

 

7,357,185

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water & Sewer (0.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gearheart, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,060,000

 

4.500%, 03/01/26 AGMC Insured

 

A2/NR/NR

 

 

1,106,640

 

 

 

Rockwood, Oregon Water Peoples Utility District Water Revenue Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,270,000

 

4.250%, 08/15/26

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,333,386

 

 

 

Total Water & Sewer

 

 

 

 

2,440,026

 

 

 

Total General Obligation Bonds

 

 

 

 

331,848,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue Bonds (31.1%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City & County (2.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newport, Oregon Urban Renewal Obligations, Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

565,000

 

4.500%, 06/15/22 Series B

 

NR/AA-/NR

 

 

584,481

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Revenue Refunding Limited Tax, Oregon Convention Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,825,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/24

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

3,031,253

 

4,265,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/27

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

4,568,796

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon River District Urban Renewal and Redevelopment

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,600,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/22 Series B

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,764,512

 

1,830,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/23 Series B

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

2,007,931

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Urban Renewal and Redevelopment, Refunding, North Macadam

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 06/15/25 Series B

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,023,720

 

 

 

Total City & County

 

 

 

 

12,980,693




16  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Revenue Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Electric (1.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eugene, Oregon  Electric Utility Refunding System

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,875,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/29 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/AA-

 

$

3,465,467

 

4,030,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/30 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/AA-

 

 

4,826,167

 

 

 

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

 

 

1,716,904

 

 

 

Total Electric

 

 

 

 

10,008,538

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher Education (1.8%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority (Lewis & Clark College Project)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.250%, 10/01/24 Series A

 

A3/A-/NR

 

 

1,082,030

 

3,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/27 Series A

 

A3/A-/NR

 

 

3,224,070

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority (Linfield College Project)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,180,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/22 Series A

 

Baa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,294,224

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/23 Series A

 

Baa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,119,530

 

1,220,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/31 Series A 2010

 

Baa1/NR/NR

 

 

1,263,713

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority (Reed College Project)

 

 

 

 

 

 

500,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/30 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

607,465

 

1,135,000

 

4.000%, 07/01/31 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

1,268,998

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority (Willamette University)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 10/01/24

 

NR/A/NR

 

 

1,023,120

 

 

 

Total Higher Education

 

 

 

 

10,883,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hospital (4.6%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medford, Oregon Hospital Facilities Authority Revenue Refunding, Asante Health Systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,000,000

 

5.500%, 08/15/28 AGMC Insured

 

NR/AA/NR

 

 

9,440,190




17  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Revenue Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Hospital (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon Health Sciences University

 

 

 

 

 

$

6,695,000

 

zero coupon, 07/01/21 NPFG Insured

 

Aa3/AA-/AA-

 

$

6,168,773

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/23 Series A

 

Aa3/AA-/AA-

 

 

2,204,340

 

1,250,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/28 Series B

 

Aa3/AA-/AA-

 

 

1,503,675

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/33 Series B

 

Aa3/AA-/AA-

 

 

1,173,370

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority Revenue Refunding, Legacy Health Systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.750%, 03/15/24

 

A1/A+/NR

 

 

1,026,970

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 03/15/30

 

A1/A+/NR

 

 

1,026,820

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority Revenue Refunding, Samaritan Health Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

4.375%, 10/01/20

 

NR/BBB+/NR

 

 

1,555,545

 

2,000,000

 

4.500%, 10/01/21

 

NR/BBB+/NR

 

 

2,082,060

 

1,520,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/23

 

NR/BBB+/NR

 

 

1,599,298

 

 

 

Total Hospital

 

 

 

 

27,781,041

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

1,386,556

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Urban Renewal and Redevelopment, Interstate Corridor

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,390,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/27 Series B

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,481,990

 

 

 

State of Oregon Housing and Community Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

870,000

 

1.800%, 01/01/23

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

 

865,954

 

 

 

Total Housing

 

 

 

 

3,734,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




18  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Revenue Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Lottery (4.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Department of Administration Services (Lottery Revenue)

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,015,000

 

5.250%, 04/01/26 Series A

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

$

1,085,847

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/32 Series A†††

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

2,488,300

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/33 Series A†††

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

1,239,510

 

1,715,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/24 Series B

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

1,885,317

 

1,500,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/25 Series B

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

1,645,725

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/25 Series B

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

1,158,480

 

4,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/30 Series C

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

4,859,640

 

5,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/26 Series D

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

5,925,600

 

4,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/28 Series D

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

4,710,080

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/29 Series D

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

1,172,190

 

 

 

Total Lottery

 

 

 

 

26,170,689

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Tax (0.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metro, Oregon Dedicated Tax Revenue (Oregon Convention Center Hotel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

750,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/31

 

Aa3/NR/NR

 

 

894,990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation (7.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Department Transportation Highway Usertax (Senior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,605,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/24 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/AA+

 

 

4,036,158

 

2,425,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/25 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/AA+

 

 

2,712,290

 

1,040,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/26 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/AA+

 

 

1,224,548

 

8,000,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/28 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/AA+

 

 

9,389,360

 

 

 

Port Portland, Oregon Airport Revenue Refunding, Portland International Airport Series Twenty Three

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,525,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/26

 

NR/AA-/NR

 

 

2,985,308

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/28

 

NR/AA-/NR

 

 

1,170,090

 

2,390,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/29

 

NR/AA-/NR

 

 

2,784,326




19  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Revenue Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Transportation (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation
District, Oregon Capital Grant Receipt

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,100,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/27 Series A

 

A3/A/NR

 

$

1,348,974

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/30 Series A

 

A3/A/NR

 

 

2,415,900

 

 

 

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation
District, Oregon (Senior Lien Payroll Tax)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 09/01/25 Series A

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

1,202,440

 

1,890,000

 

5.000%, 09/01/28 Series A

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

2,310,317

 

1,650,000

 

5.000%, 09/01/29 Series A

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

2,005,410

 

3,975,000

 

5.000%, 09/01/30 Series A

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

4,805,815

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 09/01/31 Series A

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

1,219,020

 

2,010,000

 

5.000%, 09/01/29 Series B

 

Aaa/AAA/NR

 

 

2,393,327

 

 

 

Total Transportation

 

 

 

 

42,003,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water and Sewer (8.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon  Service
District No. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,240,000

 

5.000%, 12/01/26

 

NR/AAA/NR

 

 

2,749,107

 

 

 

Clean Water Services, Oregon Refunding
(Senior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,510,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/27

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

1,883,740

 

 

 

Eugene, Oregon Water Utility System

 

 

 

 

 

 

115,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/28

 

Aa2/AA/AA+

 

 

139,049

 

450,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/29

 

Aa2/AA/AA+

 

 

541,057

 

 

 

Grants Pass, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 12/01/23

 

NR/AA/NR

 

 

1,084,050

 

 

 

Madras, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

725,000

 

4.500%, 02/15/27

 

A3/NR/NR

 

 

786,190

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Sewer System
(Second Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,005,000

 

5.000%, 03/01/28 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

3,094,218

 

5,405,000

 

4.500%, 05/01/31 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

6,187,914

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/25 Series B

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

2,342,320

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/26 Series B

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

2,372,100

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/27 Series B

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

2,369,000




20  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Revenue Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Water and Sewer (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Water System
(First Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,230,000

 

5.000%, 05/01/27 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

$

3,745,508

 

3,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/28 Series A

 

Aa1/AA/NR

 

 

4,127,620

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Water System Revenue Refunding (Junior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/23

 

Aa1/NR/NR

 

 

2,263,600

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Water System Revenue Refunding  (Senior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,275,000

 

4.000%, 05/01/25 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,305,689

 

 

 

Salem, Oregon Water & Sewer Revenue Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,500,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/25

 

Aa2/NR/NR

 

 

4,169,060

 

 

 

Seaside, Oregon Wastewater System

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.250%, 07/01/26

 

A3/NR/NR

 

 

1,042,060

 

 

 

Tigard, Oregon Water System Revenue Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,565,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/24

 

Aa3/AA-/NR

 

 

2,835,223

 

 

 

Washington County, Oregon Clean Water Services Sewer (Senior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,010,000

 

4.000%, 10/01/22 Series B

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

1,069,560

 

1,500,000

 

4.000%, 10/01/23 Series B

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

1,586,940

 

2,850,000

 

4.000%, 10/01/26 Series B

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

2,989,422

 

2,745,000

 

4.000%, 10/01/28 Series B

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

2,863,584

 

 

 

Woodburn, Oregon Wastewater Revenue Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,090,000

 

5.000%, 03/01/21 Series A

 

A1/NR/NR

 

 

1,155,531

 

 

 

Total Water and Sewer

 

 

 

 

52,702,542

 

 

 

Total Revenue Bonds

 

 

 

 

187,159,426

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Refunded Bonds (11.9%)††

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Refunded General
Obligation Bonds (5.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City & County (0.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Salem, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,750,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/29

 

NR/AA/NR

 

 

1,759,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




21  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Higher Education (0.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State, Oregon University System Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,365,000

 

4.000%, 08/01/26 Series H

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

 

2,501,153

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School District (2.9%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon School District #46 (Oregon Trail)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/22

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,007,150

 

1,865,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/28 Series A

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,878,335

 

1,800,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/29 Series A

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

1,812,870

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/32 Series A  

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

2,014,300

 

 

 

Clackamas County, Oregon School District #62 (Oregon City)

 

 

 

 

 

 

440,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/29 MAC Insured

 

NR/NR/NR*

 

 

511,482

 

 

 

Clackamas & Washington Counties, Oregon School District No. 3JT (West Linn-Wilsonville)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

4.500%, 06/15/29

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

2,012,300

 

1,965,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/30

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

1,979,050

 

500,000

 

5.000%, 06/15/34

 

Aa1/AA+/NR

 

 

503,575

 

 

 

Columbia & Washington Counties, Oregon School District #47J (Vernonia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,430,000

 

5.00%, 06/15/27

 

NR/AA+/NR

 

 

3,572,071

 

 

 

Washington County, Oregon School District #48J (Beaverton)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,280,000

 

5.000%, 06/01/31 AGC Insured

 

Aa2/AA/NR

 

 

1,287,398

 

1,000,000

 

5.125%, 06/01/36 AGC Insured

 

Aa2/AA/NR

 

 

1,005,980

 

 

 

Total School District

 

 

 

 

17,584,511

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special District (0.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tualatin Hills, Oregon Park & Recreational District

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.250%, 06/01/24

 

Aa1/AA/NR

 

 

1,004,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




22  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

State (1.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State of Oregon Alternative Energy Project

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,255,000

 

4.750%, 04/01/29 Series B

 

Aa1/AA+/AA+

 

$

1,255,000

 

 

 

State of Oregon  Department of Administrative Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

5.125%, 05/01/33

 

Aa2/AA/AA

 

 

5,014,700

 

 

 

State of Oregon  Department of Administrative Services COP

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,455,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/27 Series C

 

NR/NR/NR*

 

 

1,483,882

 

960,000

 

5.000%, 11/01/28 Series C

 

NR/NR/NR*

 

 

979,056

 

 

 

Total State

 

 

 

 

8,732,638

 

 

 

Total Pre-Refunded General Obligation Bonds

 

 

 

 

31,582,837

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Refunded Revenue Bonds (6.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City & County (0.6%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Oregon Capital Assets Program COP Cottage Grove

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,375,000

 

5.000%, 09/15/25 Series 2013A

 

A2/NR/NR

 

 

2,572,624

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon Revenue Refunding Limited Tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

4.000%, 04/01/22 Series A

 

Aaa/NR/NR

 

 

1,000,000

 

 

 

Total City & County

 

 

 

 

3,572,624

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric (0.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eugene, Oregon  Electric Utility Refunding System

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

5.000%, 08/01/27 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/AA-

 

 

2,160,640

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher Education (0.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Facilities Authority Revenue Refunding (Reed College Project)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

5.000%, 07/01/29 Series A

 

Aa2/AA-/NR

 

 

1,565,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hospital (0.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon Health Sciences University

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,500,000

 

5.750%, 07/01/39 Series A

 

Aa3/AA-/NR

 

 

4,546,305

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




23  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Principal

Amount

 

Pre-Refunded Bonds (continued)

 

Ratings

Moody's, S&P

and Fitch

(unaudited)

 

Value

 

 

 

Lottery (1.5%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Department of Administration Services (Lottery Revenue)

 

 

 

 

 

$

6,285,000

 

5.250%, 04/01/26

 

NR/NR/NR*

 

$

6,731,612

 

2,500,000

 

5.000%, 04/01/29

 

Aa2/AAA/NR

 

 

2,500,000

 

 

 

Total Lottery

 

 

 

 

9,231,612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation (2.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon State Department Transportation Highway Usertax (Senior Lien)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,865,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/23 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

1,872,852

 

2,000,000

 

4.625%, 11/15/25 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

2,007,540

 

1,000,000

 

5.000%, 11/15/26 Series A

 

Aa1/AAA/AA+

 

 

1,152,240

 

 

 

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District, Oregon Capital Grant Receipt

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,685,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/24 Series A

 

A3/A/NR

 

 

1,827,720

 

3,480,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/26 Series A

 

A3/A/NR

 

 

3,774,756

 

3,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/27 Series A

 

A3/A/NR

 

 

3,254,100

 

 

 

Total Transportation

 

 

 

 

13,889,208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water and Sewer (0.9%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prineville, Oregon Refunding

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,255,000

 

4.400%, 06/01/29 AGMC Insured

 

NR/AA/NR

 

 

1,331,354

 

 

 

Washington County, Oregon Clean Water Services Sewer

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

5.000%, 10/01/28

 

Aa1/AAA/NR

 

 

4,070,080

 

 

 

Total Water and Sewer

 

 

 

 

5,401,434

 

 

 

Total Pre-Refunded Revenue Bonds

 

 

 

 

40,367,178

 

 

 

Total Pre-Refunded Bonds

 

 

 

 

71,950,015

 

 

 

Total Municipal Bonds
(cost $575,017,015)

 

 

 

 

590,957,985




24  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Shares

 

Short-Term Investment (1.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

8,194,550

 

Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash
Management - Institutional Shares, 2.32%**
(cost $8,194,550)

 

Aaa-mf/AAAm/NR

 

$

8,194,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments

(cost $583,211,565-note 4)

 

99.4%

 

 

 599,152,535

 

 

 

Other assets less liabilities

 

0.6

 

 

 3,370,387

 

 

 

Net Assets

 

100.0%

 

$

602,522,922



Portfolio Distribution By Quality Rating (unaudited)

 

Percentage of

Investments†

Aaa of Moody's or AAA of S&P

 

    19.3%

Pre-refunded bonds††

 

 12.2

Aa of Moody's or AA of S&P or Fitch

 

 61.4

A of Moody's or S&P

 

    5.6

Baa of Moody's or BBB of S&P

 

   1.5

 

 

100.0%



PORTFOLIO ABBREVIATIONS

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




25  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 



*

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 credit four 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.

†††

Security purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis.










See accompanying notes to financial statements.



26  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


ASSETS

 

 

Investments at value (cost $583,211,565)

$

599,152,535

Interest receivable

 

7,894,281

Receivable for Trust shares sold

 

1,128,728

Other assets

 

59,904

Total assets

 

608,235,448

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

Payable for investment securities purchased

 

3,721,130

Payable for Trust shares redeemed

 

1,499,544

Management fee payable

 

199,515

Dividends payable

 

169,466

Distribution and service fees payable

 

1,662

Accrued expenses payable

 

121,209

Total liabilities

 

5,712,526

NET ASSETS

$

602,522,922

 

 

 

Net Assets consist of:

 

 

Capital Stock – Authorized an unlimited number of shares,
par value $0.01 per share

$

549,124

Additional paid-in capital

 

587,307,772

Total distributable earnings

 

14,666,026

 

$

602,522,922

CLASS A

 

 

Net Assets

$

368,455,086

Capital shares outstanding

 

33,568,837

Net asset value and redemption price per share

$

10.98

Maximum offering price per share (100/96 of $10.98)

$

11.44

 

 

 

CLASS C

 

 

Net Assets

$

19,940,328

Capital shares outstanding

 

1,818,448

Net asset value and offering price per share

$

10.97

 

 

 

CLASS F

 

 

Net Assets

$

1,009,168

Capital shares outstanding

 

92,138

Net asset value and offering price per share

$

10.95

 

 

 

CLASS Y

 

 

Net Assets

$

213,118,340

Capital shares outstanding

 

19,432,952

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

$

10.97




See accompanying notes to financial statements.



27  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


Investment Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

$

17,803,037

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management fee (note 3)

 

$

2,401,413

 

 

 

Distribution and service fee (note 3)

 

 

789,038

 

 

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses (note 6)

 

 

295,817

 

 

 

Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees

 

 

253,854

 

 

 

Legal fees

 

 

130,277

 

 

 

Registration fees and dues

 

 

51,965

 

 

 

Auditing and tax fees

 

 

29,500

 

 

 

Insurance

 

 

26,978

 

 

 

Shareholders’ reports and proxy statements

 

 

23,339

 

 

 

Custodian fees

 

 

18,826

 

 

 

Chief compliance officer services (note 3)

 

 

11,114

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

80,551

 

 

 

Total expenses

 

 

4,112,672

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management fee waived (note 3)

 

 

(40,071)

 

 

 

Net expenses

 

 

 

 

 

4,072,601

Net investment income

 

 

 

 

 

13,730,436

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) from securities transactions

 

 

(397,294)

 

 

 

Change in unrealized appreciation on investments

 

 

9,103,219

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

8,705,925

Net change in net assets resulting from operations

 

 

 

 

$

22,436,361






See accompanying notes to financial statements.



28  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

 

 


 

 

Year Ended
March 31, 2019

 

Year Ended
March 31, 2018

 

OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

$

13,730,436

 

$

15,043,569

 

Net realized gain (loss) from securities transactions

 

 

(397,294)

 

 

167,934

 

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

 

 

9,103,219

 

 

(10,825,870)

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

 

 

22,436,361

 

 

4,385,633

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (note 9):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Shares

 

 

(8,485,333)

 

 

(9,508,309)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class C Shares

 

 

(330,149)

 

 

(501,190)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class F Shares

 

 

(5,962)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Y Shares

 

 

(4,900,041)

 

 

(4,927,256)

 

Change in net assets from distributions

 

 

(13,721,485)

 

 

(14,936,755)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (note 7):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from shares sold

 

 

132,590,376

 

 

113,571,724

 

Reinvested dividends and distributions

 

 

11,033,966

 

 

12,271,877

 

Cost of shares redeemed

 

 

(176,869,705)

 

 

(125,934,967)

 

Change in net assets from capital share transactions

 

 

(33,245,363)

 

 

(91,366)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in net assets

 

 

(24,530,487)

 

 

(10,642,488)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period

 

 

 627,053,409

 

 

637,695,897

 

End of period

 

$

602,522,922

 

$

627,053,409

††



All distributions to shareholders from net investment income.

††

Includes accumulated undistributed net investment income of $310,752.






See accompanying notes to financial statements.


29  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


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 F Shares and 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 F Shares and 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 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.


30  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


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, 2019:


Valuation Inputs*

 

Investments
in Securities

Level 1 – Quoted Prices

 

$

8,194,550

Level 2 – Other Significant Observable Inputs — Municipal Bonds*

 

 

590,957,985

Level 3 – Significant Unobservable Inputs

 

 

—  

Total

 

$

599,152,535

* 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 (2016 – 2018) or expected to be taken in the Fund’s 2019 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.



31  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


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.

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. These reclassifications had no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. For the year ended March 31, 2019, there were no items identified that have been reclassified among components of net assets.

i)

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

j)

New Accounting Pronouncements – In March 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in the ASU shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities, held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; which continue to be amortized to maturity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management has reviewed this provision and has concluded that there is no impact to the Trust.

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-to-day 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


32  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


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, 2019 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, 2019, the Trust incurred management fees of $2,401,413, of which $40,071 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 billion.


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, 2019, distribution fees on Class A Shares amounted to $556,852 of which the Distributor retained $26,017.


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, 2019, amounted to $174,139. 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, 2019, amounted to $58,047. The total of these payments made with respect to Class C Shares amounted to $232,186 of which the Distributor retained $55,665.



33  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


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, 2019, total commissions on sales of Class A Shares amounted to $169,185 of which the Distributor received $45,493.


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, 2019, purchases of securities and proceeds from the sales of securities aggregated $57,203,691 and $81,111,625, respectively.


At March 31, 2019, the aggregate tax cost for all securities was $583,202,614.  At March 31, 2019, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost amounted to $16,116,621 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value amounted to $166,700 for a net unrealized appreciation of $15,949,921.


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, 2019, the Trust had 100% of its long-term portfolio holdings invested in municipal obligations of issuers within Oregon.



34  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


6. Trustees’ Fees and Expenses


During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, there were 8 Trustees, one of whom is affiliated with the Manager and is not paid any fees (as detailed under Additional Information, 2 Trustees retired at the close of the fiscal year). The total amount of Trustees’ service fees (for carrying out their responsibilities) and attendance fees paid during the year ended March 31, 2019 was $239,121. 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, 2019, such meeting-related expenses amounted to $56,696.



35  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


7. Capital Share Transactions


Transactions in Capital Shares of the Trust were as follows:


 

 

Year Ended
March 31, 2019

 

Year Ended
March 31, 2018

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

Class A Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from shares sold

 

3,818,900

 

$

41,138,310

 

3,092,150

 

$

34,080,156

Reinvested dividends and distributions

 

641,579

 

 

6,927,497

 

713,675

 

 

7,861,742

Cost of shares redeemed

 

(6,939,281)

 

 

(74,744,678)

 

(5,408,758)

 

 

(59,588,486)

Net change

 

(2,478,802)

 

 

(26,678,871)

 

(1,602,933)

 

 

(17,646,588)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class C Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from shares sold

 

210,188

 

 

2,263,688

 

322,543

 

 

3,558,945

Reinvested dividends and distributions

 

27,808

 

 

299,877

 

42,236

 

 

465,018

Cost of shares redeemed

 

(1,045,557)

 

 

(11,269,187)

 

(1,204,350)

 

 

(13,258,515)

Net change

 

(807,561)

 

 

(8,705,622)

 

(839,571)

 

 

(9,234,552)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class F Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from shares sold

 

107,638

 

 

1,160,652

 

 

 

Reinvested dividends and distributions

 

543

 

 

5,917

 

 

 

Cost of shares redeemed

 

(16,043)

 

 

(173,841)

 

 

 

Net change

 

92,138

 

 

992,728

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Y Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from shares sold

 

8,165,306

 

 

88,027,726

 

6,893,018

 

 

75,932,623

Reinvested dividends and distributions

 

352,403

 

 

3,800,675

 

358,934

 

 

3,945,117

Cost of shares redeemed

 

(8,437,199)

 

 

(90,681,999)

 

(4,832,365)

 

 

(53,087,966)

Net change

 

80,510

 

 

1,146,402

 

2,419,587

 

 

26,789,774

Total transactions in Trust shares

 

(3,113,715)

 

$

(33,245,363)

 

(22,917)

 

$

(91,366)


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.



36  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


9. Income Tax Information and Distributions


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, 2019, the Fund had capital loss carry forwards of $1,316,990 of which $923,853 retains its character of short-term and $393,137 retains its character of long-term, both have no expiration.


The tax character of distributions was as follows:


 

 

 

Year Ended
March 31, 2019

 

Year Ended
March 31, 2018

 

Net tax-exempt income

 

$

13,677,544

 

$

14,836,316

 

Ordinary Income

 

 

43,941

 

 

100,439

 

 

 

$

13,721,485

 

$

14,936,755


As of March 31, 2019, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were:


 

Unrealized appreciation

 

 

 

 

$

15,949,921

 

Undistributed tax-exempt income

 

 

 

 

 

480,218

 

Accumulated net loss on investments

 

 

 

 

 

(1,316,990)

 

Post October losses

 

 

 

 

 

(277,658)

 

Other temporary differences

 

 

 

 

 

(169,465)

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

14,666,026


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



37  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

MARCH 31, 2019

 

 

 

 


10. Credit Facility


The Bank of New York Mellon and the Aquila Group of Funds have been parties to a $40 million credit agreement, which currently terminates on August 28, 2019 (per the August 29, 2018 amendment).  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 0.17% per annum commitment fee; and,

b)

interest on amounts borrowed for temporary or emergency purposes by the Fund (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 year ended March 31, 2019.



38  |  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,

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$10.81

 

$10.99

 

$11.33

 

$11.31

 

$11.01

Income (loss) from investment operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income(1)

 

0.24

 

0.26

 

0.28

 

0.31

 

0.33

Net gain (loss) on securities
(both realized and unrealized)

 

0.17

 

(0.18)

 

(0.35)

 

0.01

 

0.30

Total from investment operations

 

0.41

 

0.08

 

(0.07)

 

0.32

 

0.63

Less distributions (note 9):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from net investment income

 

(0.24)

 

(0.26)

 

(0.27)

 

(0.30)

 

(0.33)

Distributions from capital gains

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Total distributions

 

(0.24)

 

(0.26)

 

(0.27)

 

(0.30)

 

(0.33)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$10.98

 

$10.81

 

$10.99

 

$11.33

 

$11.31

Total return (not reflecting sales charge)

 

3.90%

 

0.68%

 

(0.66)%

 

2.91%

 

5.80%

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

 

$368

 

$390

 

$414

 

$419

 

$398

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

0.70%

 

0.71%

 

0.73%

 

0.74%

 

0.74%

Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets

 

2.27%

 

2.35%

 

2.48%

 

2.72%

 

2.96%

Portfolio turnover rate

 

10%

 

8%

 

13%

 

7%

 

5%

 

Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual expense cap were (note 3):

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

0.70%

 

0.72%

 

0.74%

 

0.74%

 

0.74%

Ratio of investment income to average net assets

 

2.26%

 

2.34%

 

2.47%

 

 2.72%

 

2.96%


                               

 

(1)   Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.






See accompanying notes to financial statements.


39  |  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,

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$10.80

 

$10.98

 

$11.32

 

$11.30

 

$11.00

Income (loss) from investment operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income(1)

 

0.15

 

0.16

 

0.18

 

0.21

 

0.24

Net gain (loss) on securities
(both realized and unrealized)

 

0.17

 

(0.18)

 

(0.35)

 

0.02

 

0.30

Total from investment operations

 

0.32

 

(0.02)

 

(0.17)

 

0.23

 

0.54

Less distributions (note 9):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from net investment income

 

(0.15)

 

(0.16)

 

(0.17)

 

(0.21)

 

(0.24)

Distributions from capital gains

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Total distributions

 

(0.15)

 

(0.16)

 

(0.17)

 

(0.21)

 

(0.24)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$10.97

 

$10.80

 

$10.98

 

$11.32

 

$11.30

Total return (not reflecting CDSC)

 

3.02%

 

(0.18)%

 

(1.50)%

 

2.05%

 

4.91%

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

 

$20

 

$28

 

$38

 

$36

 

$32

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

1.54%

 

1.56%

 

1.59%

 

1.59%

 

1.58%

Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets

 

1.42%

 

1.49%

 

1.63%

 

1.86%

 

2.11%

Portfolio turnover rate

 

10%

 

8%

 

13%

 

7%

 

5%

 

Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual expense cap were (note 3):

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

1.55%

 

1.57%

 

1.59%

 

1.59%

 

1.59%

Ratio of investment income to average net assets

 

1.42%

 

1.49%

 

1.62%

 

1.86%

 

2.10%


                               

 

(1)   Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.






See accompanying notes to financial statements.


40  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




 

 

 

 

AQUILA TAX-FREE TRUST OF OREGON

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

 

 

 

 


For a share outstanding throughout each period


 

 

Class F

 

 

For the Period
November 30, 2018*
through
March 31, 2019

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$10.71

Income (loss) from investment operations:

 

 

Net investment income(1)

 

0.08

Net gain (loss) on securities
(both realized and unrealized)

 

0.24

Total from investment operations

 

0.32

Less distributions (note 9):

 

 

Dividends from net investment income

 

(0.08)

Distributions from capital gains

 

-

Total distributions

 

(0.08)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$10.95

Total return

 

3.03%(3)

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

 

$1

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

0.54%(2)

Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets

 

2.36%(2)

Portfolio turnover rate

 

10%(2)

 

Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual expense cap were:

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

0.55%(2)

Ratio of investment income to average net assets

 

2.35%(2)


                               

 

*     Commencement of operations.

(1)   Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.

(2)   Annualized.

(3)   Not annualized.






See accompanying notes to financial statements.


41  |  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,

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$10.80

 

$10.98

 

$11.32

 

$11.30

 

$11.00

Income (loss) from investment operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income(1)

 

0.26

 

0.27

 

0.29

 

0.32

 

0.35

Net gain (loss) on securities
(both realized and unrealized)

 

0.17

 

(0.18)

 

(0.35)

 

0.02

 

0.30

Total from investment operations

 

0.43

 

0.09

 

(0.06)

 

0.34

 

0.65

Less distributions (note 9):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from net investment income

 

(0.26)

 

(0.27)

 

(0.28)

 

(0.32)

 

(0.35)

Distributions from capital gains

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Total distributions

 

(0.26)

 

(0.27)

 

(0.28)

 

(0.32)

 

(0.35)

Net asset value, end of period

 

$10.97

 

$10.80

 

$10.98

 

$11.32

 

$11.30

Total return

 

4.05%

 

0.83%

 

(0.51)%

 

3.08%

 

5.97%

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

 

$213

 

$209

 

$186

 

$180

 

$126

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

0.55%

 

0.56%

 

0.58%

 

0.59%

 

0.58%

Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets

 

2.42%

 

2.50%

 

2.63%

 

2.86%

 

3.10%

Portfolio turnover rate

 

10%

 

8%

 

13%

 

7%

 

5%

 

Expense and net investment income ratios without the effect of the contractual expense cap were (note 3):

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

0.55%

 

0.57%

 

0.59%

 

0.59%

 

0.59%

Ratio of investment income to average net assets

 

2.41%

 

2.49%

 

2.62%

 

2.86%

 

3.10%


                               

 

(1)   Per share amounts have been calculated using the daily average shares method.






See accompanying notes to financial statements.



42  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




Additional Information (unaudited)


Trustees(1)
and Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and
Year of Birth
(2)

 

Positions
Held with
Trust and Length of Service(3)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex(4) Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held 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, 1986-2016, 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


43  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




Name and
Year of Birth
(2)

 

Positions
Held with
Trust and Length of Service(3)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex(4) Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held 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(7)
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(8)
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John W. Mitchell
Coeur d’Alene, ID
(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; member, Oregon Investment Council since 2018; active in community and educational organizations.

 

3

 

None


44  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




Name and
Year of Birth
(2)

 

Positions
Held with
Trust and Length of Service(3)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex(4) Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held by Trustee
During Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Interested
Trustees (cont’d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ralph R. Shaw
Portland, OR
(1938)

 

Trustee since 2000

 

Sole-Owner, Shaw Management LLC, 2018-present; President, Shaw Management Company, an investment counseling firm, 1980-2018; General Partner, Shaw Venture Partners, 1983-2005; Shaw Venture Partners II, 1987-2005; Shaw Venture Partners III, 1994-2005.

 

1

 

Former director:
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.

(7)

Mr. Hewitt retired from the Board effective March 31, 2019.

(8)

Mr. Jensen retired from the Board effective March 31, 2019, and he was appointed a Trustee Emeritus on April 1, 2019.



45  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




Name and
Year of Birth(1)

 

Positions
Held with
Trust and Length of 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Mario 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
(1957)

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.



46  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




Name and
Year of Birth(1)

 

Positions
Held with
Trust and Length of Service(2)

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years(3)

 

 

 

 

 

Officers (cont’d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Anita Albano, CPA
New York, NY
(1973)

 

Assistant Secretary of Aquila Municipal Trust since 2018

 

Assistant Secretary of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2018; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Aquila Investment Management LLC and Aquila Management Corporation since 2018; Treasurer of Aquila Investment Management LLC and Aquila Management Corporation since 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

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 Administrator 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.



47  |  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)

Share
Class

Beginning Account
Value 10/1/18

Ending(1)

Account
Value
3/31/19

Expenses(2)
Paid During Period
10/1/18 – 3/31/19

 

Ending
Account
Value
3/31/19

Expenses(2)
Paid During
Period
10/1/18 – 3/31/19

Net
Annualized Expense

Ratio

A

$1,000

$1,036.60

$3.55

 

$1,021.44

$3.53

0.70%

C

$1,000

$1,032.20

$7.85

 

$1,017.20

$7.80

1.55%

F*

$1,000

$1,009.80

$1.75

 

$1,022.24

$2.72

0.54%

Y

$1,000

$1,037.40

$2.84

 

$1,022.14

$2.82

0.56%


(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.

*

Commencement of operations.




48  |  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 Fund’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 quarters 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, 2018, 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 Trust’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, 2019, $13,677,544 of dividends paid by Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, constituting 99.7% of total dividends paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, were exempt-interest dividends; and the balance was ordinary income.


Prior to February 15, 2020, shareholders will be mailed the appropriate tax form(s) which will contain information on the status of distributions paid for the 2019 calendar year.

 

 

 

 




49  |  Aquila Tax-Free Trust of Oregon




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

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

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10286


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP

Two Liberty Place

50 South 16th Street, Suite 2900

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102



Further information is contained in the Prospectus,
which must precede or accompany this report.


AQL-ORAR-0519




ITEM 2.     CODE OF ETHICS.


(a)     As of March 31, 2019 (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 $24,600 in 2018 and $26,000 in 2019.


(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 2018 and 2019, 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

 

 

Diana P. Herrmann

 

 

Vice Chair, Trustee and President

 

 

June  5, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joseph P. DiMaggio

 

 

Joseph P. DiMaggio

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

June  5, 2019



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  5, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joseph P. DiMaggio

 

 

Joseph P. DiMaggio

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

June  5, 2019








THE CASCADES TRUST


EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.

 

Description

(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.