WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners will wait to obtain more information before deciding whether to support Shepherd of the Valley’s request to refinance an existing bond issue so the nonprofit can build a new facility in Columbiana County.

Officials with Shepherd of the Valley earlier this month asked the commissioners to support refinancing a bond that was approved in 2013.

Matthew A. Stuczynski of MAS Financial Advisory Services LLC, municipal adviser for Trumbull County, told commissioners at their workshop meeting Tuesday that supporting Shepherd of the Valley’s refinance request would not financially obligate the county to repay whatever amount is borrowed even if the company cannot repay the lending agency. Stuczynski’s firm has advised the county since 2015.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez asked if the county’s credit rating would be affected by the refinancing.

“It does not,” Stuczynski said. “We do not go before the bond rating agency.”

Shepherd of the Valley’s debt on the 2013 bond is approximately $28,560,000, according to Stuczynski, and the nonprofit is seeking $60 million in additional debt, plus the cost of refinancing.

The nonprofit cannot, by law, seek a bond itself without going through a governmental agency, such as a city, a county or through a port authority, Stuczynski said.

Shepherd of the Valley is believed to not only be requesting support from Trumbull County, but also from the Western Reserve Port Authority, Columbiana County’s Port Authority and the Columbiana County commissioners, according to Stuczynski.

The company is believed to be seeking the best deal in financing the project. It is trying to get the bond financing before the end of 2025.

“They have said they will reimburse the county for any fees it would incur,” he said. “You can charge a fee based on how much it costs you.”

Commissioner Denny Malloy asked what is the advantage to the county to approve supporting the bond refinancing.

“There is really no advantage to us for doing this, other than us being nice guys and hoping Shepherd of the Valley succeeds and is developed,” Malloy said.

Stuczynski said port authorities typically are the avenue that is sought for a request like this.

“There’s not a lot of upside,” he noted.

Hernandez said it would behoove Shepherd of the Valley to go to the Columbiana County Port Authority to provide a conduit for the bond issue.

“I just don’t know if there is a lot of benefit,” he said.

Stuczynski said if another agency provides a conduit for the refinancing of the current bond, the company’s obligation to the 2013 bond would be eliminated because it would be paid off under the new refinancing agreement.

The commissioners are waiting to see what the Columbiana County Port Authority will do before deciding what they are willing to do.