Michael W. Burns

Experience

Public Finance

• Assisted various school districts in preparing for and conducting referenda for the issuance of bonds, and subsequent issuance of bonds approved by such referenda
• Assisted school districts in preparing for and conducting referenda for the imposition of a county-wide Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax to finance capital improvements and reduce debt service millage
• Bond Counsel to a county in connection with the issuance of $40,000,000 in General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes to be repaid with Capital Projects Sales Tax proceeds
• Assisted cities with financing tourism-related improvements through the issuance of special obligation bonds or limited obligation bonds secured by local hospitality and/or accommodations fees
• Assisted cities, counties, and school districts with the issuance of Tax Anticipation Notes
• Bond Counsel to a county and a special purpose district in connection with the issuance of Solid Waste System Revenue Bonds to finance system improvements
• Assisted multiple nonprofit corporations, cities, counties, and school districts with the issuance of Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds to finance or refinance facilities for public use
• Assistance with forward delivery agreements and repurchase agreements in connection with investment of bond proceeds (debt service reserve funds and project funds)
• Bond Counsel for issuance of Special Source Revenue Bonds to pay for public infrastructure to enhance economic development
• Bond Counsel for cities in connection with the issuance of Tax Increment Bonds to pay for publicly-owned improvements to redevelop blighted conditions
• Assisted a city in connection with the purchase of a portion of a water system from a private provider
• Bond Counsel to a utility system in connection with financing of extensions and improvements to its system through revenue bonds, State Revolving Fund loans, and replacement of debt service reserve funds
• Assisted a county with the acquisition of 800 MHz Emergency Communication Equipment and facilities through approximately $8,500,000 in lease-purchase arrangements
• Assisted a city with the acquisition of advanced metering equipment for its utility system through approximately $6,900,000 in lease-purchase agreements
• Special counsel to a city in issuance of a $55,000,000 State Revolving Fund Promissory Note to finance improvements to the city’s combined utility system
• Special counsel to a nonprofit corporation borrower in the issuance of $21,300,000 in bonds by the South Carolina Jobs Economic Development Authority in connection with the financing of a municipal sports and entertainment arena
• Bond counsel to a city in issuance of a $5,200,000 Municipal Improvement District Assessment Revenue Bond
• Corporate counsel and bond counsel to a nonprofit corporation and a school district, as fiscal agent, in the issuance of a $16,230,000 Public School District Education Facilities Revenue Bond to finance the construction of a new joint-district school facility

Economic Development

• Assisted a developer in obtaining city and county tax credits in connection with the renovation of a former textile facility pursuant to the Textiles Communities Revitalization Act
• Assisted a developer with the establishment of a Municipal Improvement District by a city to finance the acquisition of public infrastructure through the imposition of special assessments
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $45,000,000 investment in headquarters for communications company in Greenville County
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $25,000,000 expansion of chemical manufacturer in Greenville County
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $100,000,000 investment in headquarters for banking corporation in Greenville County
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $63,000,000 expansion of film manufacturer in Greenville County
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $40,000,000 investment in plastics manufacturer in Laurens County
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $30,000,000 expansion of ceramic manufacturer in Greenville County
• Fee-In-Lieu of Tax arrangement for $6,000,000 expansion of plastics manufacturer in Spartanburg County
• Assisted counties, cities, and businesses with the financing of infrastructure and real property through the establishment of Joint County Industrial and Business Parks and the issuance of Special Source Revenue Bonds, Special Source Credit Agreements, and Infrastructure Financing Agreements
• Assistance to cities and counties in the negotiation of economic development incentives offered to developers, manufacturers, and other commercial enterprises, and subsequent preparation

Tax Credit Finance

• Assisted a city with financing the acquisition, construction, and repair of recreational facilities in the total amount of approximately $7,800,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a city with financing the acquisition and construction of a parking garage in the total amount of approximately $15,000,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a city with financing the construction of airport improvements in the total amount of approximately $3,800,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a city with financing the acquisition and construction of Olympic-caliber cycling facilities in the total amount of approximately $5,000,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a city with financing improvements and renovations to facilities for the recruitment of economic development in the total amount of approximately $5,200,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a developer with financing a commercial development in the total amount of approximately $11,800,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a company with financing certain improvements to its manufacturing facility in the total amount of approximately $13,500,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a community loan fund with its participation in a shopping center development in the total amount of approximately $6,200,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a nonprofit corporation with financing the construction of an early childhood learning center in the total amount of approximately $10,000,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a nonprofit corporation with financing the construction of a mixed-use project in the total amount of approximately $23,100,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits
• Assisted a city with financing the acquisition and construction of a community center in the total amount of approximately $16,000,000 through the use of New Market Tax Credits

Other Experience 

• Assisted a city with providing various grants and loans to encourage the location of a grocery store in a “food desert” area of the city
• Assistance to cities, counties, and school districts with the formation of nonprofit corporations to finance facilities for public use, and undertake other charitable activities, and assistance with preparation and submission of applications to the Internal Revenue Service for confirmation of 501(c)(3) status
• Assistance to a community lender in connection with its provision of subordinate loans to finance a portion of the redevelopment of a former textile facility into a large-scale, mixed-use project
• Assistance to multiple local governments with the negotiation and implementation of intergovernmental agreements to finance public projects, incentivize private development, or otherwise facilitate economic development efforts

Honors & Recognitions

Civic Activities

Professional Activities