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- 5245

 

 

 

DREYFUS STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.

 

 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

c/o The Dreyfus Corporation

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

 

 

 

Michael A. Rosenberg, Esq.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

 

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(212) 922-6000

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

 

9/30

 

Date of reporting period:

09/30/11

 

             

 

 


 

 

FORM N-CSR

Item 1.                        Reports to Stockholders.

 


 



 



 

 

Contents

 

THE FUND

2      

A Letter from the Chairman and CEO

3      

Discussion of Fund Performance

6      

Selected Information

7      

Statement of Investments

27      

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

28      

Statement of Operations

29      

Statement of Cash Flows

30      

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

31      

Financial Highlights

33      

Notes to Financial Statements

43      

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

44      

Additional Information

48      

Important Tax Information

49      

Proxy Results

50      

Board Members Information

53      

Officers of the Fund

57      

Officers and Directors

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover


 

Dreyfus
Strategic Municipals, Inc.

The Fund


A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO

Dear Shareholder:

This annual report for Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. covers the 12-month period from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011. For information about how the fund performed during the reporting period, as well as general market perspectives, we provide a Discussion of Fund Performance on the pages that follow.

Investors generally were encouraged by expectations of a more robust economic recovery over the first half of the reporting period, but investor sentiment deteriorated sharply during the second half due to disappointing economic data, rising commodity prices, an escalating sovereign debt crisis in Europe and a contentious debate regarding taxes, spending and borrowing in the United States. Market volatility was particularly severe during August and September after a major credit rating agency downgraded U.S. long-term debt. While most fixed-income securities proved volatile in this tumultuous environment, municipal bonds held up relatively well due to robust demand for a limited supply of newly issued securities.

The economic outlook currently is clouded by heightened market turbulence and political infighting, but we believe that a continued subpar global expansion is more likely than a return to recession. Inflationary pressures appear to be waning in most countries as energy prices recently have retreated from their highs. In the United States, the Federal Reserve Board has signaled its intention to maintain an aggressively accommodative monetary policy, which may help offset the financial stresses caused by deleveraging in the private sector and fiscal consolidation by governments in the United States and Europe. To assess the potential impact of these and other developments on your investments, we encourage you, as always, to speak with your financial advisor.

Thank you for your continued confidence and support.


Jonathan R. Baum
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Dreyfus Corporation
October 17, 2011

2


 


DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE

For the period of October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011, as provided by James Welch, Portfolio Manager

Fund and Market Performance Overview

For the 12-month period ended September 30, 2011, Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. achieved a total return of 4.53% on a net-asset-value basis. 1 Over the same period, the fund provided aggregate income dividends of $0.59 per share, which reflects a distribution rate of 6.92%. 2

After encountering weak market conditions over the final months of 2010, municipal bonds generally rebounded in 2011 as a reduced supply of newly issued securities was met by robust investor demand.The fund’s results were enhanced by its leveraging strategy, which continued to benefit from historically low short-term interest rates.

The Fund’s Investment Approach

The fund’s investment objective is to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in municipal obligations. Generally, the fund invests at least 50% of its net assets in municipal bonds considered investment grade or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus in the case of bonds, and in the two highest-rating categories or the unrated equivalent as determined by Dreyfus in the case of short-term obligations having or deemed to have maturities of less than one year.

To this end, portfolio construction focuses on income opportunities, through analysis of each bond’s structure, including paying close attention to each bond’s yield, maturity and early redemption features.When making new investments, we focus on identifying undervalued sectors and securities, and we minimize the use of interest rate forecasting.We select municipal bonds by using fundamental credit analysis to estimate the relative value and attractiveness of various sectors and securities and to exploit pricing inefficiencies in the municipal bond market. We actively trade among various sectors, such as escrowed, general obligation and revenue, based on their apparent relative values.

The Fund   3  

 


 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (continued)

Municipal Bonds Held Up Relatively Well Amid Uncertainty

Stimulative measures from the Federal Reserve Board, improved economic data and rising corporate earnings generally supported investor sentiment into the first quarter of 2011.While investor confidence was shaken in February due to political unrest in the Middle East, and again in March, when natural and nuclear disasters struck Japan, most markets bounced back quickly from these unexpected shocks.

Economic sentiment began to deteriorate in earnest in late April when Greece appeared headed for default on its sovereign debt, U.S. economic data disappointed and the debate regarding U.S. government spending and borrowing intensified. Riskier assets suffered bouts of volatility as investors shifted their focus to traditionally defensive investments. Turbulence among stocks and lower-rated bonds was particularly severe in August and September, after a major credit-rating agency downgraded its assessment of long-term U.S. debt securities.

Despite these developments, municipal bond prices were buoyed in 2011 by strong investor demand for a limited supply of newly issued securities, more than offsetting the effects of market weakness at the end of 2010. The termination of the federally subsidized Build America Bonds program and political pressure to reduce spending led to less municipal borrowing over the first months of 2011.Yet, demand remained robust from investors seeking competitive levels of tax-exempt income.

Longer-Term Bonds Buoyed Relative Performance

The fund’s results were driven by strong performance among longer-term bonds, which fared well when long-term interest rates fell amid deteriorating economic conditions later in the reporting period. In addition, the ongoing use of tender option bonds for a substantial portion of the fund’s leveraging strategy proved effective as the fund’s borrowing costs remained anchored by historically low short-term interest rates.

We identified attractive values among general obligation bonds from states that, in our analysis, were punished too severely during the market downturn over the final months of 2010. Bonds from California, Illinois and New Jersey rebounded strongly in 2011 as credit conditions stabilized, boosting the fund’s returns. Revenue bonds backed by

4


 

essential-services facilities also fared well over the reporting period. However, the positive impact of these strategies was offset to a degree by bonds backed by the states’ settlement of litigation with U.S. tobacco companies, which suffered credit-rating downgrades during the reporting period.

Adjusting to a Slower-Growth Environment

Throughout the reporting period, we took steps to improve the fund’s risk profile by increasing the credit quality of its holdings, including municipal bonds that historically have been attractive to individual investors. In our view, such securities are likely to be the focus of robust demand as individuals grow more concerned about persistently low interest rates and potential tax increases. At the same time, we intend to remain vigilant in monitoring economic and market developments, including risks stemming from changes in interest rates and credit conditions, until the direction and strength of the U.S. economy become clearer.

October 17, 2011

  Bond funds are subject generally to interest rate, credit, liquidity and market risks, to varying  
  degrees. Generally, all other factors being equal, bond prices are inversely related to interest-rate  
  changes, and rate increases can cause price declines.  
  High yield bonds are subject to increased credit risk and are considered speculative in terms of the  
  issuer’s perceived ability to continue making interest payments on a timely basis and to repay  
  principal upon maturity.  
  The use of leverage may magnify the fund’s gains or losses. For derivatives with a leveraging  
  component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset can result in a loss that is  
  much greater than the original investment in the derivative.  
1   Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid, based upon net asset  
  value per share. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Market price per share, net asset  
  value per share and investment return fluctuate. Income may be subject to state and local taxes,  
  and some income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT) for certain  
  investors. Capital gains, if any, are fully taxable. Return figure provided reflects the absorption of  
  certain fund expenses by The Dreyfus Corporation pursuant to an agreement in effect until May  
  31, 2012, at which time it may be extended, modified or terminated. Had these expenses not  
  been absorbed, the fund’s return would have been lower.  
2   Distribution rate per share is based upon dividends per share paid from net investment income  
  during the period, divided by the market price per share at the end of the period, adjusted for any  
  capital gain distributions.  

 

The Fund   5  

 


 

SELECTED INFORMATION  
September 30, 2011 (Unaudited)  

 

Market Price per share September 30, 2011     8.50      
Shares Outstanding September 30, 2011     61,278,991      
New York Stock Exchange Ticker Symbol     LEO      
 
MARKET PRICE (NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE)      
      Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2011  
  Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
  Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
December 31, 2010     March 31, 2011     June 30, 2011     September 30, 2011  
High   $9.07   $8.04   $8.21   $ 8.50  
Low   7.44     7.17     7.66     7.66  
Close   7.80     8.04     8.15     8.50  
 
PERCENTAGE GAIN (LOSS) based on change in Market Price*  
September 23, 1987 (commencement of operations)          
through September 30, 2011         360.10 %  
October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2011     71.77  
October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2011     28.49  
October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011         1.32  
January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011     15.10  
April 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011           9.59
July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011           6.14
 
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE          
September 23, 1987 (commencement of operations)   $9.32  
September 30, 2010             8.65  
December 31, 2010             7.79  
March 31, 2011               7.62  
June 30, 2011               8.04  
September 30, 2011             8.41  
 
PERCENTAGE GAIN based on change in Net Asset Value*  
September 23, 1987 (commencement of operations)          
through September 30, 2011         388.40  
October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2011     70.47  
October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2011     23.36  
October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011           4.53
January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011     14.03  
April 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011     14.41  
July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011         6.45  
 
* With dividends reinvested.              

 

6


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS  
September 30, 2011  

 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments—153.5%   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
Arizona—6.2%            
Arizona Housing Finance Authority,            
SFMR (Mortgage-Backed            
Securities Program)            
(Collateralized: FHLMC,            
FNMA and GNMA)   5.55   12/1/41   5,565,000     5,736,680  
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Salt River Project            
Agricultural Improvement and            
Power District, Salt River Project            
Electric System Revenue)   5.00   1/1/38   17,210,000   a,b   18,363,414  
Glendale Western Loop 101 Public            
Facilities Corporation, Third            
Lien Excise Tax Revenue   6.25   7/1/38   5,000,000     5,194,300  
Pima County Industrial Development            
Authority, Education Revenue            
(American Charter Schools            
Foundation Project)   5.63   7/1/38   3,410,000     2,731,990  
California—18.0%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Los Angeles            
Department of Airports,            
Senior Revenue (Los Angeles            
International Airport))   5.00   5/15/31   5,247,500   a,b   5,613,031  
California,            
GO (Various Purpose)   5.75   4/1/31   10,800,000     11,878,704  
California,            
GO (Various Purpose)   6.50   4/1/33   10,000,000     11,798,300  
California,            
GO (Various Purpose)   6.00   11/1/35   7,500,000     8,458,275  
California Statewide Communities            
Development Authority, Revenue            
(Bentley School)   7.00   7/1/40   2,090,000     1,742,935  
California Statewide Communities            
Development Authority, Revenue            
(Bentley School)   0.00   7/1/50   6,225,000   c   151,579  
California Statewide Communities            
Development Authority, Student            
Housing Revenue (CHF-Irvine,            
LLC-UCI East Campus            
Apartments, Phase II)   5.75   5/15/32   2,000,000     1,999,840  

 

The Fund   7  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
California (continued)            
Golden State Tobacco            
Securitization Corporation,            
Tobacco Settlement            
Asset-Backed Bonds   4.50   6/1/27   2,000,000     1,567,120  
Golden State Tobacco            
Securitization Corporation,            
Tobacco Settlement            
Asset-Backed Bonds   5.00   6/1/33   10,075,000     7,113,756  
Golden State Tobacco            
Securitization Corporation,            
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed            
Bonds (Prerefunded)   7.80   6/1/13   8,100,000   d   9,075,888  
Golden State Tobacco            
Securitization Corporation,            
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed            
Bonds (Prerefunded)   7.90   6/1/13   2,000,000   d   2,244,140  
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers            
Trust (California Educational            
Facilities Authority, Revenue            
(University of Southern California))   5.25   10/1/16   10,100,000   a,b   11,080,912  
Sacramento County,            
Airport System Subordinate and            
Passenger Facility Charges            
Grant Revenue   6.00   7/1/35   6,250,000     6,777,000  
San Buenaventura,            
Revenue (Community Memorial            
Health System)   7.50   12/1/41   2,000,000     2,041,000  
San Diego Public Facilities            
Financing Authority, Senior            
Sewer Revenue   5.25   5/15/34   2,500,000     2,683,975  
Tobacco Securitization Authority            
of Southern California,            
Tobacco Settlement            
Asset-Backed Bonds (San Diego            
County Tobacco Asset            
Securitization Corporation)   5.00   6/1/37   7,300,000     5,062,112  
Tuolumne Wind Project Authority,            
Revenue (Tuolumne            
Company Project)   5.88   1/1/29   3,500,000     3,905,860  

 

8


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Colorado—1.8%            
Beacon Point Metropolitan            
District, GO   6.25   12/1/35   2,000,000   1,874,620  
Colorado Educational and Cultural            
Facilities Authority, Charter            
School Revenue (American            
Academy Project)   8.00   12/1/40   3,500,000   4,131,820  
Colorado Housing and Finance            
Authority, Single Family            
Program Senior and            
Subordinate Bonds            
(Collateralized; FHA)   6.60   8/1/32   960,000   1,038,336  
Southlands Metropolitan District            
Number 1, GO (Prerefunded)   7.13   12/1/14   2,000,000 d   2,409,560  
Delaware—.9%            
Delaware Economic Development            
Authority, Exempt Facility            
Revenue (Indian River Power            
LLC Project)   5.38   10/1/45   5,000,000   4,642,850  
Florida—7.8%            
Clearwater,            
Water and Sewer Revenue   5.25   12/1/39   5,000,000   5,451,650  
Florida,            
Department of Transportation            
Right-of-Way Acquisition and            
Bridge Construction Bonds   5.00   7/1/24   5,000,000   5,717,300  
Greater Orlando Aviation            
Authority, Airport            
Facilities Revenue   6.25   10/1/20   8,000,000   9,498,800  
Mid-Bay Bridge Authority,            
Springing Lien Revenue   7.25   10/1/34   6,000,000   6,404,460  
Orange County School Board,            
COP (Master Lease Purchase            
Agreement) (Insured; Assured            
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   5.50   8/1/34   6,000,000   6,414,600  
Saint Johns County Industrial            
Development Authority, Revenue            
(Presbyterian Retirement            
Communities Project)   6.00   8/1/45   6,500,000   6,617,520  

 

The Fund   9  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Georgia—7.7%          
Atlanta,          
Airport General Revenue   5.00   1/1/26   5,000,000   5,196,750  
Atlanta,          
Water and Wastewater Revenue   6.00   11/1/27   6,000,000   6,806,340  
Atlanta,          
Water and Wastewater Revenue          
(Insured; Assured Guaranty          
Municipal Corp.)   5.25   11/1/34   6,000,000   6,408,840  
Brooks County Development          
Authority, Senior Health and          
Housing Facilities Revenue          
(Presbyterian Home, Quitman,          
Inc.) (Collateralized; GNMA)   5.70   1/20/39   4,445,000   4,656,582  
DeKalb County Hospital Authority,          
RAC (DeKalb Medical          
Center, Inc. Project)   6.13   9/1/40   7,765,000   7,919,446  
Fulton County Development          
Authority, Revenue (Georgia          
Tech North Avenue Apartments          
Project) (Insured; XLCA)   5.00   6/1/32   2,300,000   2,364,377  
Georgia Higher Education          
Facilities Authority,          
Revenue (USG Real Estate          
Foundation I, LLC Project)          
(Insured; Assured Guaranty          
Municipal Corp.)   5.63   6/15/38   6,000,000   6,367,080  
Hawaii—.9%          
Hawaii Department of Budget and          
Finance, Special Purpose          
Revenue (Hawai’i Pacific          
Health Obligated Group)   5.75   7/1/40   4,415,000   4,416,060  
Idaho—1.0%          
Power County Industrial          
Development Corporation, SWDR          
(FMC Corporation Project)   6.45   8/1/32   5,000,000   5,004,450  
Illinois—4.6%          
Chicago,          
General Airport Third Lien          
Revenue (Chicago O’Hare          
International Airport)   5.63   1/1/35   5,000,000   5,463,050  

 

10


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Illinois (continued)          
Chicago,          
SFMR (Collateralized: FHLMC,          
FNMA and GNMA)   6.55   4/1/33   1,550,000   1,623,361  
Illinois,          
GO   5.00   3/1/28   3,000,000   3,026,040  
Illinois Finance Authority,          
Recovery Zone Facility Revenue          
(Navistar International          
Corporation Project)   6.50   10/15/40   4,000,000   4,161,360  
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition          
Authority, State Tax Revenue          
(McCormick Place Expansion          
Project) (Insured; National          
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.)   5.25   6/15/42   5,325,000   5,349,175  
Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement          
Authority, Tobacco          
Settlement Revenue   6.00   6/1/28   4,000,000   4,157,200  
Indiana—1.7%          
Indianapolis Local Public          
Improvement Bond Bank,          
Revenue (Indianapolis          
Airport Authority Project)          
(Insured; AMBAC)   5.00   1/1/36   4,500,000   4,440,510  
Petersburg,          
SWDR (Indianapolis Power and          
Light Company Project)   6.38   11/1/29   4,150,000   4,224,908  
Iowa—.3%          
Tobacco Settlement Authority of          
Iowa, Tobacco Settlement          
Asset-Backed Bonds   5.60   6/1/34   2,000,000   1,675,940  
Kansas—.2%          
Sedgwick and Shawnee Counties,          
SFMR (Mortgage-Backed          
Securities Program)          
(Collateralized: FNMA and GNMA)   5.70   12/1/35   1,140,000   1,198,824  
Kentucky—.9%          
Kentucky Area Development          
Districts Financing Trust, COP          
(Lease Acquisition Program)   5.50   5/1/27   2,000,000   2,081,540  

 

The Fund   11  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
Kentucky (continued)            
Louisville/Jefferson County Metro            
Government, Health Facilities            
Revenue (Jewish Hospital            
and Saint Mary’s            
HealthCare, Inc. Project)   6.13   2/1/37   2,300,000     2,356,695  
Louisiana—1.7%            
Lakeshore Villages Master            
Community Development District,            
Special Assessment Revenue   5.25   7/1/17   2,979,000   e   1,191,302  
Louisiana Local Government            
Environmental Facilities and            
Community Development            
Authority, Revenue (Westlake            
Chemical Corporation Projects)   6.75   11/1/32   7,000,000     7,351,050  
Maine—1.2%            
Maine Health and Higher            
Educational Facilities Authority,            
Revenue (MaineGeneral Medical            
Center Issue)   7.50   7/1/32   3,000,000     3,268,050  
Maine Housing Authority,            
Mortgage Purchase Bonds   5.30   11/15/23   2,825,000     2,828,927  
Maryland—1.2%            
Maryland Economic Development            
Corporation, Senior Student            
Housing Revenue (University of            
Maryland, Baltimore Project)   5.75   10/1/33   4,590,000     3,053,130  
Maryland Economic Development            
Corporation, Student Housing            
Revenue (University of            
Maryland, College Park            
Project) (Prerefunded)   6.50   6/1/13   3,000,000   d   3,304,800  
Massachusetts—10.2%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Massachusetts Health            
and Educational Facilities            
Authority, Revenue            
(Massachusetts Institute of            
Technology Issue))   5.00   7/1/38   13,110,000   a,b   14,269,842  
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers            
Trust (Massachusetts,            
Consolidated Loan)   5.00   4/1/19   8,600,000   a,b   9,840,894  

 

12


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Massachusetts (continued)            
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers            
Trust (Massachusetts            
Development Finance            
Agency, Revenue (Harvard            
University Issue))   5.25   2/1/34   10,000,000 a,b   11,490,400  
Massachusetts Health and            
Educational Facilities            
Authority, Revenue (Civic            
Investments Issue)            
(Prerefunded)   9.00   12/15/12   1,400,000 d   1,537,928  
Massachusetts Health and            
Educational Facilities            
Authority, Revenue (Partners            
HealthCare System Issue)   5.75   7/1/32   185,000   186,944  
Massachusetts Health and            
Educational Facilities            
Authority, Revenue (Suffolk            
University Issue)   6.25   7/1/30   5,500,000   5,977,345  
Massachusetts Housing Finance            
Agency, Rental Housing            
Mortgage Revenue            
(Insured; AMBAC)   5.50   7/1/40   4,000,000   3,655,920  
Massachusetts Industrial Finance            
Agency, RRR (Ogden            
Haverhill Project)   5.60   12/1/19   6,000,000   6,019,380  
Michigan—10.8%            
Charyl Stockwell Academy,            
COP   5.90   10/1/35   2,580,000   2,068,128  
Detroit,            
Sewage Disposal System Senior            
Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured            
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   7.00   7/1/27   2,500,000   2,954,375  
Detroit,            
Sewage Disposal System Senior            
Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured            
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   7.50   7/1/33   5,700,000   6,822,615  
Detroit School District,            
School Building and Site            
Improvement Bonds            
(GO—Unlimited Tax)            
(Insured; FGIC)   5.00   5/1/28   6,930,000   6,982,737  

 

The Fund   13  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Michigan (continued)          
Kent Hospital Finance Authority,          
Revenue (Metropolitan          
Hospital Project)   6.00   7/1/35   2,930,000   2,794,400  
Kent Hospital Finance Authority,          
Revenue (Metropolitan          
Hospital Project)   6.25   7/1/40   3,000,000   2,931,180  
Michigan Hospital Finance          
Authority, HR (Henry Ford          
Health System)   5.63   11/15/29   5,000,000   5,147,400  
Michigan Strategic Fund,          
LOR (The Detroit Edison          
Company Exempt Facilities          
Project) (Insured; XLCA)   5.25   12/15/32   3,000,000   3,017,670  
Michigan Strategic Fund,          
SWDR (Genesee Power          
Station Project)   7.50   1/1/21   11,100,000   10,537,563  
Royal Oak Hospital Finance          
Authority, HR (William Beaumont          
Hospital Obligated Group)   8.25   9/1/39   5,500,000   6,543,295  
Wayne County Airport Authority,          
Airport Revenue (Detroit          
Metropolitan Wayne County          
Airport) (Insured; National          
Public Finance Guarantee Corp.)   5.00   12/1/34   7,000,000   6,609,750  
Minnesota—3.6%          
Dakota County Community          
Development Agency, SFMR          
(Mortgage-Backed Securities          
Program) (Collateralized:          
FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA)   5.15   12/1/38   1,415,856   1,504,347  
Dakota County Community          
Development Agency, SFMR          
(Mortgage-Backed Securities          
Program) (Collateralized:          
FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA)   5.30   12/1/39   1,577,396   1,690,921  
Minneapolis,          
Health Care System Revenue          
(Fairview Health Services)          
(Insured; Assured Guaranty          
Municipal Corp.)   6.50   11/15/38   5,000,000   5,670,250  

 

14


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Minnesota (continued)          
North Oaks,          
Senior Housing Revenue          
(Presbyterian Homes of North          
Oaks, Inc. Project)   6.25   10/1/47   1,265,000   1,269,377  
Saint Paul Housing and          
Redevelopment Authority,          
Hospital Facility Revenue          
(HealthEast Project)   5.15   11/15/20   3,310,000   3,250,784  
Winona,          
Health Care Facilities          
Revenue (Winona Health          
Obligated Group)   6.00   7/1/26   5,000,000   5,081,050  
Mississippi—4.7%          
Clairborne County,          
PCR (System Energy          
Resources, Inc. Project)   6.20   2/1/26   4,545,000   4,547,318  
Mississippi Business Finance          
Corporation, PCR (System          
Energy Resources, Inc. Project)   5.88   4/1/22   14,310,000   14,338,906  
Mississippi Development Bank,          
Special Obligation Revenue          
(Magnolia Regional Health          
Center Project)   6.50   10/1/31   5,000,000   5,237,700  
Missouri—1.7%          
Missouri Development Finance          
Board, Infrastructure          
Facilities Revenue (Branson          
Landing Project)   5.38   12/1/27   2,000,000   2,022,660  
Missouri Development Finance          
Board, Infrastructure          
Facilities Revenue (Branson          
Landing Project)   5.50   12/1/32   4,500,000   4,547,070  
Missouri Development Finance          
Board, Infrastructure Facilities          
Revenue (Independence,          
Crackerneck Creek Project)   5.00   3/1/28   2,000,000   1,968,020  
Montana—.1%          
Montana Board of Housing,          
SFMR   6.45   6/1/29   465,000   473,375  

 

The Fund   15  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal    
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)   Value ($)  
Nevada—1.0%            
Clark County,            
Passenger Facility Charge            
Revenue (Las Vegas-McCarran            
International Airport)   5.00   7/1/30   5,000,000   5,189,600  
New Hampshire—1.4%            
New Hampshire Health and            
Educational Facilities Authority,            
Revenue (Exeter Project)   6.00   10/1/24   1,000,000   1,011,710  
New Hampshire Health and            
Educational Facilities Authority,            
Revenue (Exeter Project)   5.75   10/1/31   1,000,000   1,011,050  
New Hampshire Industrial            
Development Authority, PCR            
(Connecticut Light and Power            
Company Project)   5.90   11/1/16   5,000,000   5,011,150  
New Jersey—4.0%            
New Jersey Economic Development            
Authority, Cigarette Tax Revenue   5.75   6/15/34   5,500,000   5,284,070  
New Jersey Higher Education            
Student Assistance Authority,            
Student Loan Revenue (Insured;            
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   6.13   6/1/30   5,000,000   5,247,350  
Tobacco Settlement Financing            
Corporation of New Jersey,            
Tobacco Settlement            
Asset-Backed Bonds   5.00   6/1/29   5,000,000   3,649,850  
Tobacco Settlement Financing            
Corporation of New Jersey,            
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed            
Bonds (Prerefunded)   7.00   6/1/13   5,640,000 d   6,259,892  
New Mexico—1.5%            
Farmington,            
PCR (Public Service Company of            
New Mexico San Juan Project)   5.90   6/1/40   7,000,000   6,968,640  
New Mexico Mortgage Finance            
Authority, Single Family            
Mortgage Program Revenue            
(Collateralized: FHLMC,            
FNMA and GNMA)   6.15   7/1/35   705,000   759,941  

 

16


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
New York—9.9%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (New York City            
Municipal Water Finance            
Authority, Water and            
Sewer System General            
Resolution Revenue)   5.00   6/15/39   20,000,000   a,b   21,362,200  
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (New York City            
Transitional Finance Authority,            
Future Tax Secured            
Subordinate Revenue)   5.50   11/1/27   5,000,000   a,b   5,860,350  
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers            
Trust (New York City            
Transitional Finance Authority,            
Future Tax Secured            
Subordinate Revenue)   5.25   11/1/18   5,000,000   a,b   5,873,600  
New York City            
Educational Construction            
Fund, Revenue   6.50   4/1/27   4,490,000     5,475,465  
New York City Industrial            
Development Agency, PILOT            
Revenue (Yankee Stadium            
Project) (Insured; Assured            
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   7.00   3/1/49   5,000,000     5,758,750  
New York State Dormitory            
Authority, Revenue (Orange            
Regional Medical Center            
Obligated Group)   6.13   12/1/29   1,625,000     1,642,843  
Port Authority of New York            
and New Jersey,            
Special Project Bonds            
(JFK International Air            
Terminal LLC Project)   6.00   12/1/36   2,000,000     2,084,240  
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel            
Authority, Revenue   5.25   11/15/30   2,720,000     2,834,430  
North Carolina—.5%            
North Carolina Housing            
Finance Agency, Home            
Ownership Revenue   5.88   7/1/31   2,600,000     2,602,002  

 

The Fund   17  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
Ohio—3.8%            
Buckeye Tobacco Settlement            
Financing Authority, Tobacco            
Settlement Asset-Backed Bonds   5.88   6/1/30   3,000,000     2,259,870  
Butler County,            
Hospital Facilities Revenue            
(UC Health)   5.50   11/1/40   3,500,000     3,408,230  
Canal Winchester Local School            
District, School Facilities            
Construction and Improvement            
and Advance Refunding Bonds            
(GO—Unlimited Tax) (Insured;            
National Public Finance            
Guarantee Corp.)   0.00   12/1/29   3,955,000   c   1,621,787  
Canal Winchester Local School            
District, School Facilities            
Construction and Improvement            
and Advance Refunding Bonds            
(GO—Unlimited Tax) (Insured;            
National Public Finance            
Guarantee Corp.)   0.00   12/1/31   3,955,000   c   1,427,162  
Ohio Air Quality Development            
Authority, Air Quality Revenue            
(Ohio Valley Electric            
Corporation Project)   5.63   10/1/19   5,900,000     6,395,541  
Port of Greater Cincinnati            
Development Authority, Tax            
Increment Development Revenue            
(Fairfax Village Red Bank            
Infrastructure Project)   5.63   2/1/36   3,000,000   b   2,235,930  
Toledo Lucas County Port            
Authority, Airport Revenue            
(Baxter Global Project)   6.25   11/1/13   2,100,000     2,090,571  
Oregon—.6%            
Warm Springs Reservation            
Confederated Tribes,            
Hydroelectric Revenue (Pelton            
Round Butte Project)   6.38   11/1/33   3,300,000     3,338,775  

 

18


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
Pennsylvania—2.7%            
Delaware County Industrial            
Development Authority, Charter            
School Revenue (Chester            
Community Charter            
School Project)   6.13   8/15/40   5,000,000     4,670,550  
JPMorgan Chase Putters/Drivers            
Trust (Geisinger Authority,            
Health System Revenue            
(Geisinger Health System))   5.13   6/1/35   3,000,000   a,b   3,137,130  
Philadelphia,            
GO   6.50   8/1/41   3,550,000     4,086,441  
Philadelphia Authority for            
Industrial Development,            
Revenue (Please Touch            
Museum Project)   5.25   9/1/31   2,425,000     2,103,542  
Rhode Island—1.1%            
Rhode Island Health and            
Educational Building            
Corporation, Hospital            
Financing Revenue (Lifespan            
Obligated Group Issue)            
(Insured; Assured Guaranty            
Municipal Corp.)   7.00   5/15/39   5,000,000     5,764,400  
South Carolina—4.3%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Columbia, Waterworks            
and Sewer System Revenue)   5.00   2/1/40   10,000,000   a,b   10,928,500  
South Carolina Public Service            
Authority, Revenue Obligations   5.50   1/1/38   10,000,000     11,058,200  
Tennessee—3.6%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Rutherford County            
Health and Educational            
Facilities Board, Revenue            
(Ascension Health Senior            
Credit Group))   5.00   11/15/40   10,000,000   a,b   10,436,900  

 

The Fund   19  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
Tennessee (continued)            
Metropolitan Government of            
Nashville and Davidson County            
Health and Educational            
Facilities Board, Revenue (The            
Vanderbilt University)   5.50   10/1/34   7,000,000     7,925,470  
Texas—11.8%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Leander Independent            
School District, Unlimited Tax            
School Building Bonds            
(Permanent School Fund            
Guarantee Program))   5.00   8/15/40   8,510,000   a,b   9,183,779  
Dallas and Fort Worth,            
Joint Revenue (Dallas/Fort            
Worth International Airport)            
(Insured; National Public            
Finance Guarantee Corp.)   6.25   11/1/28   2,540,000     2,550,135  
Dallas Area Rapid Transit,            
Senior Lien Sales Tax Revenue   5.25   12/1/48   10,000,000     10,745,500  
Harris County Health Facilities            
Development Corporation,            
HR (Memorial Hermann            
Healthcare System)   7.25   12/1/35   2,000,000     2,264,940  
Houston,            
Combined Utility System First            
Lien Revenue (Insured; Assured            
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   6.00   11/15/36   5,000,000     5,788,300  
North Texas Tollway Authority,            
First Tier System Revenue            
(Insured; Assured Guaranty            
Municipal Corp.)   5.75   1/1/40   10,300,000     11,037,583  
North Texas Tollway Authority,            
Second Tier System Revenue   5.75   1/1/38   5,500,000     5,669,565  
Sam Rayburn Municipal Power            
Agency, Power Supply            
System Revenue   5.75   10/1/21   6,000,000     6,114,360  
Texas Department of Housing and            
Community Affairs, Home            
Mortgage Revenue            
(Collateralized: FHLMC,            
FNMA and GNMA)   12.98   7/2/24   550,000   f   608,806  

 

20


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
Texas (continued)            
Texas Turnpike Authority,            
Central Texas Turnpike System            
Revenue (Insured; AMBAC)   5.75   8/15/38   7,100,000     7,114,768  
Vermont—.1%            
Vermont Housing Finance Agency,            
SFHR (Insured; Assured            
Guaranty Municipal Corp.)   6.40   11/1/30   445,000     454,336  
Virginia—2.0%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (Virginia Small            
Business Financing            
Authority, Health Care            
Facilities Revenue            
(Sentara Healthcare))   5.00   11/1/40   10,000,000   a,b   10,443,000  
Washington—5.5%            
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (King County, Limited            
Tax GO (Payable from            
Sewer Revenues))   5.13   1/1/33   10,000,000   a,b   10,877,400  
Barclays Capital Municipal Trust            
Receipts (King County,            
Sewer Revenue)   5.00   1/1/29   3,998,716   a,b   4,464,076  
Washington Health Care Facilities            
Authority, Mortgage Revenue            
(Highline Medical Center)            
(Collateralized; FHA)   6.25   8/1/36   5,975,000     6,675,210  
Washington Higher Education            
Facilities Authority, Revenue            
(Seattle University Project)            
(Insured; AMBAC)   5.25   11/1/37   3,000,000     3,133,920  
Washington Housing Finance            
Commission, Revenue            
(Single-Family Program)            
(Collateralized: FHLMC,            
FNMA and GNMA)   5.15   6/1/37   3,000,000     3,015,960  
West Virginia—.8%            
The County Commission of Harrison            
County, SWDR (Allegheny Energy            
Supply Company, LLC Harrison            
Station Project)   5.50   10/15/37   2,000,000     1,988,980  

 

The Fund   21  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
West Virginia (continued)            
West Virginia Water Development            
Authority, Water Development            
Revenue (Insured; AMBAC)   6.38   7/1/39   2,250,000     2,263,455  
Wisconsin—4.1%            
Badger Tobacco Asset            
Securitization Corporation,            
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed            
Bonds (Prerefunded)   6.13   6/1/12   2,795,000   d   2,901,937  
Badger Tobacco Asset            
Securitization Corporation,            
Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed            
Bonds (Prerefunded)   7.00   6/1/12   12,995,000   d   13,567,300  
Madison,            
IDR (Madison Gas and Electric            
Company Projects)   5.88   10/1/34   2,390,000     2,403,025  
Wisconsin Health and Educational            
Facilities Authority, Revenue            
(Aurora Health Care, Inc.)   6.40   4/15/33   2,000,000     2,047,400  
Wyoming—1.1%            
Wyoming Municipal Power Agency,            
Power Supply System Revenue   5.50   1/1/33   2,360,000     2,522,321  
Wyoming Municipal Power Agency,            
Power Supply System Revenue   5.38   1/1/42   2,750,000     2,908,070  
U.S. Related—6.5%            
Government of Guam,            
LOR (Section 30)   5.75   12/1/34   2,000,000     2,054,220  
Guam Housing Corporation,            
SFMR (Guaranteed            
Mortgage-Backed            
Securities Program)            
(Collateralized; FHLMC)   5.75   9/1/31   965,000     1,077,065  
Guam Waterworks Authority,            
Water and Wastewater            
System Revenue   5.63   7/1/40   2,000,000     1,929,440  

 

22


 

Long-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
U.S. Related (continued)            
Puerto Rico Commonwealth,            
Public Improvement GO   5.50   7/1/32   2,000,000     2,030,780  
Puerto Rico Commonwealth,            
Public Improvement GO   6.00   7/1/39   1,610,000     1,669,345  
Puerto Rico Commonwealth,            
Public Improvement GO   6.50   7/1/40   2,390,000     2,619,344  
Puerto Rico Electric Power            
Authority, Power Revenue   5.25   7/1/40   2,500,000     2,537,475  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing            
Corporation, Sales Tax Revenue            
(First Subordinate Series)   5.38   8/1/38   5,000,000     5,199,250  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing            
Corporation, Sales Tax Revenue            
(First Subordinate Series)   5.38   8/1/39   2,500,000     2,593,275  
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing            
Corporation, Sales Tax Revenue            
(First Subordinate Series)   6.00   8/1/42   11,000,000     11,912,560  
Total Long-Term Municipal Investments          
(cost $755,489,106)           791,450,670  
 
Short-Term Municipal            
Investments—.9%            
California—.4%            
Irvine Assessment District Number            
05-21, Limited Obligation            
Improvement Bonds (LOC:            
California State Teachers            
Retirement System and            
U.S. Bank NA)   0.20   10/1/11   1,200,000   g   1,200,000  
Irvine Assessment District Number            
89-10 (LOC: California State            
Teachers Retirement System            
and State Street Bank            
and Trust Co.)   0.20   10/1/11   835,000   g   835,000  

 

The Fund   23  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Short-Term Municipal   Coupon   Maturity   Principal      
Investments (continued)   Rate (%)   Date   Amount ($)     Value ($)  
New York—.5%            
New York City,            
GO Notes (LOC; JPMorgan            
Chase Bank)   0.14   10/1/11   1,800,000   g   1,800,000  
New York City,            
GO Notes (LOC; JPMorgan            
Chase Bank)   0.14   10/1/11   700,000   g   700,000  
Total Short-Term Municipal Investments          
(cost $4,535,000)           4,535,000  
 
Total Investments (cost $760,024,106)       154.4 %     795,985,670  
Liabilities, Less Cash and Receivables       (12.9 %)     (66,836,827 )  
Preferred Stock, at redemption value       (41.5 %)     (213,750,000 )  
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders     100.0 %     515,398,843  

 

a Collateral for floating rate borrowings.  
b Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.These securities may be resold in  
transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.At September 30, 2011, these  
securities were valued at $165,461,358 or 32.1% of net assets applicable to Common Shareholders.  
c Security issued with a zero coupon. Income is recognized through the accretion of discount.  
d These securities are prerefunded; the date shown represents the prerefunded date. Bonds which are prerefunded are  
collateralized by U.S. Government securities which are held in escrow and are used to pay principal and interest on  
the municipal issue and to retire the bonds in full at the earliest refunding date.  
e Non-income producing security; interest payments in default.  
f Inverse floater security—the interest rate is subject to change periodically. Rate shown is the interest rate in effect at  
September 30, 2011.  
g Variable rate demand note—rate shown is the interest rate in effect at September 30, 2011. Maturity date represents  
the next demand date, or the ultimate maturity date if earlier.  

 

24


 

Summary of Abbreviations      
 
ABAG   Association of Bay Area Governments   ACA   American Capital Access  
AGC   ACE Guaranty Corporation   AGIC   Asset Guaranty Insurance Company  
AMBAC   American Municipal Bond   ARRN   Adjustable Rate Receipt Notes  
  Assurance Corporation      
BAN   Bond Anticipation Notes   BPA   Bond Purchase Agreement  
CIFG   CDC Ixis Financial Guaranty   COP   Certificate of Participation  
CP   Commercial Paper   EDR   Economic Development Revenue  
EIR   Environmental Improvement Revenue   FGIC   Financial Guaranty Insurance  
      Company  
FHA   Federal Housing Administration   FHLB   Federal Home Loan Bank  
FHLMC   Federal Home Loan Mortgage   FNMA   Federal National  
  Corporation     Mortgage Association  
GAN   Grant Anticipation Notes   GIC   Guaranteed Investment Contract  
GNMA   Government National   GO   General Obligation  
  Mortgage Association      
HR   Hospital Revenue   IDB   Industrial Development Board  
IDC   Industrial Development Corporation   IDR   Industrial Development Revenue  
LOC   Letter of Credit   LOR   Limited Obligation Revenue  
LR   Lease Revenue   MFHR   Multi-Family Housing Revenue  
MFMR   Multi-Family Mortgage Revenue   PCR   Pollution Control Revenue  
PILOT   Payment in Lieu of Taxes   PUTTERS   Puttable Tax-Exempt Receipts  
RAC   Revenue Anticipation Certificates   RAN   Revenue Anticipation Notes  
RAW   Revenue Anticipation Warrants   RRR   Resources Recovery Revenue  
SAAN   State Aid Anticipation Notes   SBPA   Standby Bond Purchase Agreement  
SFHR   Single Family Housing Revenue   SFMR   Single Family Mortgage Revenue  
SONYMA   State of New York Mortgage Agency   SWDR   Solid Waste Disposal Revenue  
TAN   Tax Anticipation Notes   TAW   Tax Anticipation Warrants  
TRAN   Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes   XLCA   XL Capital Assurance  

 

The Fund   25  

 


 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

Summary of Combined Ratings (Unaudited)    
 
Fitch   or   Moody’s   or   Standard & Poor’s   Value (%)  
AAA     Aaa     AAA   19.6  
AA     Aa     AA   25.0  
A     A     A   25.3  
BBB     Baa     BBB   20.7  
BB     Ba     BB   2.1  
B     B     B   .4  
F1     MIG1/P1     SP1/A1   .3  
Not Rated h     Not Rated h     Not Rated h   6.6  
          100.0  

 

  Based on total investments.  
h   Securities which, while not rated by Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, have been determined by the Manager to  
  be of comparable quality to those rated securities in which the fund may invest.  
See notes to financial statements.  

 

26


 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES  
September 30, 2011  

 

  Cost   Value  
Assets ($):      
Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments   760,024,106   795,985,670  
Interest receivable     13,763,694  
Receivable for investment securities sold     506,101  
Prepaid expenses     37,643  
    810,293,108  
Liabilities ($):      
Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates—Note 2(b)     439,105  
Cash overdraft due to Custodian     2,992,904  
Payable for floating rate notes issued—Note 3     74,886,216  
Payable for investment securities purchased     2,451,400  
Interest and expense payable related to      
floating rate notes issued—Note 3     180,115  
Commissions payable     29,675  
Dividends payable to Preferred Shareholders     4,373  
Accrued expenses     160,477  
    81,144,265  
Auction Preferred Stock, Series M,T,W,Th and F, par value $.001    
per share (8,550 shares issued and outstanding at $25,000      
per share liquidation preference)—Note 1     213,750,000  
Net Assets applicable to Common Shareholders ($)     515,398,843  
Composition of Net Assets ($):      
Common Stock, par value, $.001 per share      
(61,278,991 shares issued and outstanding)     61,279  
Paid-in capital     557,917,169  
Accumulated undistributed investment income—net     9,261,419  
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments     (87,802,588 )  
Accumulated net unrealized appreciation      
(depreciation) on investments     35,961,564  
Net Assets applicable to Common Shareholders ($)     515,398,843  
Shares Outstanding      
(500 million shares authorized)     61,278,991  
Net Asset Value, per share of Common Stock ($)     8.41  
 
See notes to financial statements.      

 

The Fund   27  

 


 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  
Year Ended September 30, 2011  

 

Investment Income ($):    
Interest Income   42,856,363  
Expenses:    
Management fee—Note 2(a)   5,314,909  
Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued—Note 3   489,454  
Commission fees—Note 1   369,623  
Professional fees   123,576  
Shareholder servicing costs—Note 2(b)   91,858  
Directors’ fees and expenses—Note 2(c)   85,355  
Shareholders’ reports   84,132  
Registration fees   58,865  
Custodian fees—Note 2(b)   52,871  
Miscellaneous   162,756  
Total Expenses   6,833,399  
Less—reduction in management fee due to undertaking—Note 2(a)   (708,654 )  
Net Expenses   6,124,745  
Investment Income—Net   36,731,618  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 3 ($):    
Net realized gain (loss) on investments   (10,313,792 )  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (4,208,833 )  
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments   (14,522,625 )  
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders   (751,790 )  
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   21,457,203  
 
See notes to financial statements.    

 

28


 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS  
Year Ended September 30, 2011  

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities ($):        
Interest received   43,273,399    
Operating expenses paid   (5,661,245)    
Dividends paid to Preferred Shareholders   (757,230)    
Purchases of portfolio securities   (129,434,446)    
Net purchases of short-term portfolio securities   (2,735,000)    
Proceeds from sales of portfolio securities   126,621,830    
      31,307,308  
Cash Flows from Financing Activities ($):        
Net proceeds from floating rate notes issued   25,471,216    
Dividends paid to Common Shareholders   (34,665,582)    
Redemptions of Auction Preferred Stock   (22,000,000)    
Interest and expense related        
to floating rate notes issued paid   (490,300)   (31,684,666 )  
Decrease in cash       (377,358 )  
Cash overdraft at beginning of period       (2,615,546 )  
Cash overdraft at end of period       (2,992,904 )  
Reconciliation of Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to        
Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations to        
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities ($):        
Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Common        
Shareholders Resulting From Operations       21,457,203  
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets applicable        
to Common Shareholders resulting from operations to        
net cash provided by operating activities ($):        
Increase in investments in securities, at cost       (7,801,750 )  
Decrease in receivable for investment securities sold       17,522,776  
Decrease in payable for investment securities purchased       (4,954,850 )  
Increase in interest receivable       (381,487 )  
Decrease in commissions payable and accrued expenses       (5,716 )  
Decrease in prepaid expenses       2,773  
Decrease in Due to The Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates       (23,011 )  
Decrease in dividends payable to Preferred Shareholders       (5,440 )  
Interest and expense related to floating rate notes issued       489,454  
Net unrealized depreciation on investments       4,208,833  
Net amortization of premiums on investments       798,523  
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities       31,307,308  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information ($):        
Non-cash financing activities:        
Reinvestment of dividends       1,323,153  
 
See notes to financial statements.        

 

The Fund   29  

 


 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

  Year Ended September 30,  
  2011   2010  
Operations ($):      
Investment income—net   36,731,618   37,823,788  
Net realized gain (loss) on investments   (10,313,792 )   (7,762,407 )  
Net unrealized appreciation      
(depreciation) on investments   (4,208,833 )   16,873,724  
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders   (751,790 )   (1,068,111 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets      
Resulting from Operations   21,457,203   45,866,994  
Dividends to Common Shareholders from ($):      
Investment income—net   (35,988,735 )   (34,940,680 )  
Capital Stock Transactions ($):      
Dividends reinvested   1,323,153   2,894,956  
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   (13,208,379 )   13,821,270  
Net Assets ($):      
Beginning of Period   528,607,222   514,785,952  
End of Period   515,398,843   528,607,222  
Undistributed investment income—net   9,261,419   9,470,839  
Capital Share Transactions (Shares):      
Increase in Shares Outstanding as      
a Result of Dividends Reinvested   167,099   344,971  
 
See notes to financial statements.      

 

30


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table describes the performance for the fiscal periods indicated.Total return shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and distributions. These figures have been derived from the fund's financial statements, and with respect to common stock, market price data for the fund’s common shares.

    Year Ended September 30,    
  2011   2010   2009   2008   2007  
Per Share Data ($):            
Net asset value, beginning of period   8.65   8.47   7.88   9.12   9.46  
Investment Operations:            
Investment income—net a   .60   .62   .67   .68   .69  
Net realized and unrealized            
gain (loss) on investments   (.24 )   .15   .48   (1.25 )   (.36 )  
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders            
from investment income—net   (.01 )   (.02 )   (.06 )   (.17 )   (.17 )  
Total from Investment Operations   .35   .75   1.09   (.74 )   .16  
Distributions to Common Shareholders:            
Dividends from investment income—net   (.59 )   (.57 )   (.50 )   (.50 )   (.50 )  
Net asset value, end of period   8.41   8.65   8.47   7.88   9.12  
Market value, end of period   8.50   9.02   7.91   6.75   8.74  
Total Return (%) b   1.32   22.13   26.05   (18.00 )   .46  

 

The Fund   31  

 


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

    Year Ended September 30,    
  2011   2010   2009   2008   2007  
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):            
Ratio of total expenses to average net            
assets applicable to Common Stock c   1.40   1.40   1.50   1.58   1.63  
Ratio of net expenses to average net            
assets applicable to Common Stock c   1.26   1.24   1.34   1.42   1.48  
Ratio of interest and expense related            
to floating rate notes issued            
to average net assets applicable            
to Common Stock c   .10   .05     .17   .28  
Ratio of net investment income            
to average net assets applicable            
to Common Stock c   7.51   7.43   9.09   7.79   7.38  
Ratio of total expenses to            
total average net assets   .96   .92   .92   1.03   1.09  
Ratio of net expenses to            
total average net assets   .86   .82   .82   .92   .99  
Ratio of interest and expense related            
to floating rate notes issued to            
total average net assets   .07   .03     .11   .19  
Ratio of net investment income            
to total average net assets   5.18   4.89   5.57   5.07   4.92  
Portfolio Turnover Rate   17.81   24.41   28.72   48.60   34.75  
Asset coverage of Preferred Stock,            
end of period   341   324   281   268   294  
Net Assets, net of Preferred Stock,            
end of period ($ x 1,000)   515,399   528,607   514,786   478,586   553,598  
Preferred Stock outstanding,            
end of period ($ x 1,000)   213,750   235,750   285,000   285,000   285,000  

 

a   Based on average common shares outstanding at each month end.  
b   Calculated based on market value.  
c   Does not reflect the effect of dividends to Preferred Shareholders.  
See notes to financial statements.  

 

32


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1—Significant Accounting Policies:

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a diversified closed-end management investment company. The fund’s investment objective is to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital.The Dreyfus Corporation (the “Manager” or “Dreyfus”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY Mellon”), serves as the fund’s investment adviser.The fund’s Common Stock trades on the NewYork Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol LEO.

The fund has outstanding 1,710 shares of Series M, Series T, Series W, Series TH and Series F for a total of 8,550 shares of Auction Preferred Stock (“APS”), with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends upon liquidation). APS dividend rates are determined pursuant to periodic auctions or by reference to a market rate. Deutsche Bank Trust Company America, as Auction Agent, receives a fee from the fund for its services in connection with such auctions.The fund also compensates broker-dealers generally at an annual rate of .15%-.25% of the purchase price of the shares of APS.

The fund is subject to certain restrictions relating to the APS. Failure to comply with these restrictions could preclude the fund from declaring any distributions to Common Shareholders or repurchasing common shares and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of APS at liquidation value.Thus, redemptions of APS may be deemed to be outside of the control of the fund.

The holders of the APS, voting as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two directors.The holders of the APS will vote as a separate class on certain other matters, as required by law. The fund has designated Robin A. Melvin and John E. Zuccotti as directors to be elected by the holders of APS.

The Fund   33  

 


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

During the period ended September 30, 2011, the fund announced the following redemptions of APS at a price of $25,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends through the redemption date.

  Shares   Amount   Redemption  
Series   Redeemed   Redeemed ($)   Date  
M   56   1,400,000   November 16, 2010  
T   56   1,400,000   November 17, 2010  
W   56   1,400,000   November 18, 2010  
TH   56   1,400,000   November 19, 2010  
F   56   1,400,000   November 15, 2010  
M   102   2,550,000   January 18, 2011  
T   102   2,550,000   January 19, 2011  
W   102   2,550,000   January 20, 2011  
TH   102   2,550,000   January 21, 2011  
F   102   2,550,000   January 18, 2011  
M   18   450,000   February 15, 2011  
T   18   450,000   February 16, 2011  
W   18   450,000   February 17, 2011  
TH   18   450,000   February 18, 2011  
F   18   450,000   February 14, 2011  
Total   880   22,000,000    

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the exclusive reference of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions.Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown.The fund does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.

(a) Portfolio valuation: The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a lia-

34


 

bility in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. the exit price). GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value.This hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

Additionally, GAAP provides guidance on determining whether the volume and activity in a market has decreased significantly and whether such a decrease in activity results in transactions that are not orderly. GAAP requires enhanced disclosures around valuation inputs and techniques used during annual and interim periods.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s investments relating to fair value measurements.These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1 —unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments.

Level 2 —other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

Level 3 —significant unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

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

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. Valuation techniques used to value the fund’s investments are as follows:

Investments in securities are valued each business day by an independent pricing service (the “Service”) approved by the Board of Directors. Investments for which quoted bid prices are readily available and are representative of the bid side of the market in the judgment of the Service are valued at the mean between the quoted bid prices (as obtained by the

The Fund   35  

 


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Service from dealers in such securities) and asked prices (as calculated by the Service based upon its evaluation of the market for such securities). Other investments (which constitute a majority of the portfolio securities) are carried at fair value as determined by the Service, based on methods which include consideration of: yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. All preceding securities are categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

When market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available, or are determined not to reflect accurately fair value, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market), but before the fund calculates its net asset value, the fund may value these investments at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Board of Directors. Certain factors may be considered when fair valuing investments such as: fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition, an evaluation of the forces that influence the market in which the securities are purchased and sold, and public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers.

For restricted securities where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of September 30, 2011 in valuing the fund’s investments:

    Level 2—Other   Level 3—    
  Level 1—   Significant   Significant    
  Unadjusted   Observable   Unobservable    
  Quoted Prices   Inputs   Inputs   Total  
Assets ($)          
Investments in Securities:        
Municipal Bonds     795,985,670     795,985,670  

 

In May 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04 “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in GAAP and International Financial

36


 

Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)” (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 includes common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 will require reporting entities to disclose the following information for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy: quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement, the valuation processes used by the reporting entity and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs. In addition, ASU 2011-04 will require reporting entities to make disclosures about amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. The new and revised disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of ASU 2011-04 and its impact on the financial statements.

(b) Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income, adjusted for accretion of discount and amortization of premium on investments, is earned from settlement date and recognized on the accrual basis. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date.

(c) Dividends to shareholders of Common Stock (“Common Shareholders(s)”): Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from investment income-net are declared and paid monthly. Dividends from net realized capital gains, if any, are normally declared and paid annually, but the fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To the extent that net realized capital gains can be offset by capital loss carryovers, it is the policy of the fund not to distribute such gains. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

The Fund   37  

 


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For Common Shareholders who elect to receive their distributions in additional shares of the fund, in lieu of cash, such distributions will be reinvested at the lower of the market price or net asset value per share (but not less than 95% of the market price) as defined in the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan.

On September 29, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.049 per share from investment income-net, payable on October 31, 2011 to Common Shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 18, 2011.

(d) Dividends to shareholders of APS: Dividends, which are cumulative, are generally reset every 7 days for each Series of APS pursuant to a process specified in related fund charter documents. Dividend rates as of September 30, 2011, for each Series of APS were as follows: Series M-0.244%, Series T-0.244%, Series W-0.244%, Series TH-0.244% and Series F-0.259%. These rates reflect the “maximum rates” under the governing instruments as a result of “failed auctions” in which sufficient clearing bids are not received.The average dividend rates for the period ended September 30, 2011 for each Series of APS were as follows: Series M-0.34%, Series T-0.34%, Series W-0.34%, Series TH-0.34% and Series F-0.35%.

(e) Federal income taxes: It is the policy of the fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, which can distribute tax exempt dividends, by complying with the applicable provisions of the Code and to make distributions of income and net realized capital gain sufficient to relieve it from substantially all federal income and excise taxes.

As of and during the period ended September 30, 2011, the fund did not have any liabilities for any uncertain tax positions.The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

38


 

Each of the tax years in the four-year period ended September 30, 2011 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

At September 30, 2011, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows: undistributed tax exempt income $10,060,054, accumulated capital losses $76,307,603 and unrealized appreciation $36,260,374. In addition, the fund had $11,793,795 of capital losses realized after October 31, 2010, which were deferred for tax purposes to the first day of the following fiscal year.

The accumulated capital loss carryover is available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future net securities profits, if any, realized subsequent to September 30, 2011. If not applied, $27,258,106 of the carryover expires in fiscal 2012, $264,789 expires in fiscal 2016, $9,875,465 expires in fiscal 2017, $32,540,019 expires in fiscal 2018 and $6,369,224 expires in fiscal 2019.

Under the recently enacted Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “2010 Act”), the fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-enactment losses”) for an unlimited period. However, the 2010 Act requires post-enactment losses to be utilized before the utilization of losses incurred in taxable years prior to the effective date of the 2010 Act. As a result of this ordering rule, capital loss carryovers related to taxable years beginning prior to the effective date of the 2010 Act may be more likely to expire unused.

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal periods ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010 were as follows: tax exempt income $36,656,908 and $35,831,855 and ordinary income $83,617 and $176,936, respectively.

The Fund   39  

 


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

During the period ended September 30, 2011, as a result of permanent book to tax differences, primarily due to the tax treatment for amortization adjustments and a capital loss carryover expiration, the fund decreased accumulated undistributed investment income-net by $200,513, increased net realized gain (loss) on investments by $19,687,198 and decreased paid-in capital by $19,486,685. Net assets and net asset value per share were not affected by this reclassification.

NOTE 2—Management Fee and Other Transactions With Affiliates:

(a) Pursuant to a management agreement (“Agreement”) with the Manager, the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .75% of the value of the fund’s average weekly net assets, inclusive of the outstanding APS, and is payable monthly.The Agreement provides for an expense reimbursement from the Manager should the fund’s aggregate expenses, exclusive of taxes, interest on borrowings, brokerage and extraordinary expenses, in any full fiscal year exceed the lesser of (1) the expense limitation of any state having jurisdiction over the fund or (2) 2% of the first $10 million, 1 1 / 2 % of the next $20 million and 1% of the excess over $30 million of the average weekly value of the fund’s net assets.The Manager has currently undertaken for the period from October 1, 2010 through May 31, 2012, to waive receipt of a portion of the fund’s management fee, in the amount of .10% of the value of the fund’s average weekly net assets (including net assets representing APS outstanding).The reduction in management fee, pursuant to the undertaking, amounted to $708,654 during the period ended September 30, 2011.

(b) The fund compensates BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, a subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of Dreyfus, under a transfer agency agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the fund. During the period ended September 30, 2011, the fund was charged $91,858 pursuant to the transfer agency agreement, which is included in Shareholder servicing costs in the Statement of Operations.

40


 

The fund has an arrangement with the custodian bank whereby the fund receives earnings credits from the custodian when positive cash balances are maintained, which are used to offset custody fees. For financial reporting purposes, the fund includes net earnings credits, as an expense offset in the Statement of Operations.

The fund compensates The Bank of NewYork Mellon, a subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of Dreyfus, under a custody agreement for providing custodial services to the fund. During the period ended September 30, 2011, the fund was charged $52,871 pursuant to the custody agreement.

During the period ended September 30, 2011, the fund was charged $7,146 for services performed by the Chief Compliance Officer.

The components of “Due toThe Dreyfus Corporation and affiliates” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities consist of: management fees $447,475, custodian fees $21,294, chief compliance officer fees $3,750 and transfer agency per account fees $26,250 which are offset against an expense reimbursement currently in effect in the amount of $59,664.

(c) Each Board member also serves as a Board member of other funds within the Dreyfus complex. Annual retainer fees and attendance fees are allocated to each fund based on net assets.

NOTE 3—Securities Transactions:

The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, during the period ended September 30, 2011, amounted to $124,479,596 and $134,570,270, respectively.

Inverse Floater Securities: The fund participates in secondary inverse floater structures in which fixed-rate, tax-exempt municipal bonds are transferred to a trust.The trust subsequently issues two or more variable rate securities that are collateralized by the cash flows of the fixed-rate, tax-exempt municipal bonds. One or more of these variable rate securities pays interest based on a short-term floating rate set by a remarketing

The Fund   41  

 


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

agent at predetermined intervals.A residual interest tax-exempt security is also created by the trust, which is transferred to the fund, and is paid interest based on the remaining cash flow of the trust, after payment of interest on the other securities and various expenses of the trust.

The fund accounts for the transfer of bonds to the trust as secured borrowings, with the securities transferred remaining in the fund’s investments, and the related floating rate certificate securities reflected as fund liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The average amount of borrowings outstanding under the inverse floater structure during the period ended September 30, 2011, was approximately $69,958,600, with a related weighted average annualized interest rate of .70%.

At September 30, 2011, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $684,839,080; accordingly, accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investments was $36,260,374, consisting of $45,419,529 gross unrealized appreciation and $9,159,155 gross unrealized depreciation.

42


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Shareholders and Board of Directors
Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc., including the statement of investments, as of September 30, 2011, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and financial highlights for each of the years indicated therein. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2011 by correspondence with the custodian and others.We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc. at September 30, 2011, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the indicated years, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


New York, New York
November 23, 2011

The Fund 43


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan

Under the fund’s Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”), a holder of Common Stock who has fund shares registered in his name will have all dividends and distributions reinvested automatically by BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, as Plan administrator (the “Administrator”), in additional shares of the fund at the lower of prevailing market price or net asset value (but not less than 95% of market value at the time of valuation) unless such shareholder elects to receive cash as provided below. If market price is equal to or exceeds net asset value, shares will be issued at net asset value. If net asset value exceeds market price or if a cash dividend only is declared, the Administrator, as agent for the Plan participants, will buy fund shares in the open market. A Plan participant is not relieved of any income tax that may be payable on such dividends or distributions.

A Common Shareholder who owns fund shares registered in nominee name through his broker/dealer (i.e., in “street name”) may not participate in the Plan, but may elect to have cash dividends and distributions reinvested by his broker/dealer in additional shares of the fund if such service is provided by the broker/dealer; otherwise such dividends and distributions will be treated like any other cash dividend.

A Common Shareholder who has fund shares registered in his name may elect to withdraw from the Plan at any time for a $2.50 fee and thereby elect to receive cash in lieu of shares of the fund. Changes in elections must be in writing, sent to The Bank of New York Mellon, c/o BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, Shareholder Investment Plan, P.O. Box 35803, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8035, should include the shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the Administrator’s records and will be effective only if received more than fifteen days prior to the record date for any distribution.

A Plan participant who has fund shares in his name has the option of making additional cash payments to the Administrator, semi-annually, in any amount from $1,000 to $10,000, for investment in the fund’s

44


 

shares in the open market on or about January 15 and July 15. Any voluntary cash payments received more than 30 days prior to these dates will be returned by the Administrator, and interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments. A participant may withdraw a voluntary cash payment by written notice, if the notice is received by the Administrator not less than 48 hours before the payment is to be invested.A Common Shareholder who owns fund shares registered in street name should consult his broker/dealer to determine whether an additional cash purchase option is available through his broker/dealer.

The Administrator maintains all Common Shareholder accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmations of all transactions in the account. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Administrator in non-certificated form in the name of the participant, and each such participant’s proxy will include those shares purchased pursuant to the Plan.

The fund pays the Administrator’s fee for reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Plan participants pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Administrator’s open market purchases and purchases from voluntary cash payments, and a $1.25 fee for each purchase made from a voluntary cash payment.

The fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to notice of the change sent to Plan participants at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by the Administrator on at least 90 days’ written notice to Plan participants.

Level Distribution Policy

The fund’s dividend policy is to distribute substantially all of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more consistent yield to the current trading price of shares of Common Stock of the fund, the fund may at times

The Fund 45


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)

pay out less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular month and may at times in any month pay out such accumulated but undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in that month. As a result, the dividends paid by the fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the fund during such month.

Benefits and Risks of Leveraging

The fund utilizes leverage to seek to enhance the yield and net asset value of its Common Stock.These objectives cannot be achieved in all interest rate environments. To leverage, the fund has issued Preferred Stock, which pays dividends at prevailing short-term interest rates, and invests the proceeds in long-term municipal bonds.The interest earned on these investments is paid to Common Shareholders in the form of dividends, and the value of these portfolio holdings is reflected in the per share net asset value of the fund’s Common Stock. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, the fund redeemed $22,000,000 of its outstanding Preferred Stock, the leverage that had been provided by the redeemed Preferred Stock was replaced through the purchase of tax-exempt tender option bonds. In order for this form of leverage to benefit Common Shareholders, the yield curve must be positively sloped: that is, short-term interest rates must be lower than long-term interest rates.At the same time, a period of generally declining interest rates will benefit Common Shareholders. If either of these conditions change along with other factors that may have an effect on preferred dividends or tender option bonds, then the risk of leveraging will begin to outweigh the benefits.

46


 

Supplemental Information

For the period ended September 30, 2011, there were: (i) no material changes in the fund’s investment objectives or policies, (ii) no changes in the fund’s charter or by-laws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the fund, (iii) no material changes in the principal risk factors associated with investment in the fund, and (iv) no change in the person primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio.

Certifications

The fund’s then-current chief executive officer has certified to the NYSE, pursuant to the requirements of Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, that, as of July 8, 2011, he was not aware of any violation by the fund of applicable NYSE corporate governance listing standards.The fund’s reports to the SEC on Form N-CSR contain certifications by the fund’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act, including certifications regarding the quality of the fund’s disclosures in such reports and certifications regarding the fund’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.

The Fund   47  

 


 

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

In accordance with federal tax law, the fund hereby designates all the dividends paid from investment income-net during its fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 as “exempt-interest dividends” (not generally subject to regular federal income tax), except $83,617 that is being designated as an ordinary income distribution for reporting purposes.

Where required by federal tax law rules, shareholders will receive notification of their portion of the fund’s taxable ordinary dividends (if any) and capital gains distributions (if any) paid for the 2011 calendar year on Form 1099-DIV and their portion of the fund's tax-exempt dividends paid for the 2011 calendar year on Form 1099-INT, both of which will be mailed in early 2012.

48


 

PROXY RESULTS (Unaudited)

Holders of Common Stock and holders of Auction Preferred Stock (“APS”) voted together as a single class (except as noted below) on the following proposal presented at the annual shareholders’ meeting held on June 10, 2011.

    Shares    
  For     Authority Withheld  
To elect three Class II Directors:        
Gordon J. Davis   52,759,062     1,601,855  
Ehud Houminer   52,656,590     1,704,327  
Robin A. Melvin ††   6,019     58  

 

  The terms of these Class II Directors expire in 2014.  
††   Elected solely by APS holders, Common Shareholders not entitled to vote.  

 

The Fund   49  

 


 



 



 



 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited)

BRADLEY J. SKAPYAK, President since January 2010.

Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Manager since June 2009. From April 2003 to June 2009, Mr. Skapyak was the head of the Investment Accounting and Support Department of the Manager. He is an officer of 75 investment companies (comprised of 167 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1988.

MICHAEL A. ROSENBERG, Vice President and Secretary since August 2005.

Assistant General Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1991.

KIESHA ASTWOOD, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since January 2010.

Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 38 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since July 1995.

JAMES BITETTO, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon and Secretary of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 45 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since December 1996.

JONI LACKS CHARATAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 55 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1988.

JOSEPH M. CHIOFFI, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 49 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 2000.

KATHLEEN DENICHOLAS, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since January 2010.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 36 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 2001.

JANETTE E. FARRAGHER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Assistant General Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 48 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1984.

JOHN B. HAMMALIAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 48 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since February 1991.

M. CRISTINA MEISER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since January 2010.

Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. She is 41 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since August 2001.

The Fund   53  

 


 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited) (continued)

ROBERT R. MULLERY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 59 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since May 1986.

JEFF PRUSNOFSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 46 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1990.

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001.

Director – Mutual Fund Accounting of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 53 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1985.

RICHARD CASSARO, Assistant Treasurer since January 2007.

Senior Accounting Manager – Money Market and Municipal Bond Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since September 1982.

GAVIN C. REILLY, Assistant Treasurer since December 2005.

Tax Manager of the Investment Accounting and Support Department of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 43 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since April 1991.

ROBERT ROBOL, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.

Senior Accounting Manager – Fixed Income Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 47 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since October 1988.

ROBERT SALVIOLO, Assistant Treasurer since May 2007.

Senior Accounting Manager – Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 44 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since June 1989.

ROBERT SVAGNA, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.

Senior Accounting Manager – Equity Funds of the Manager, and an officer of 76 investment companies (comprised of 192 portfolios) managed by the Manager. He is 44 years old and has been an employee of the Manager since November 1990.

JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY, Chief Compliance Officer since October 2004.

Chief Compliance Officer of the Manager and The Dreyfus Family of Funds (76 investment companies, comprised of 192 portfolios). From November 2001 through March 2004, Mr. Connolly was first Vice-President, Mutual Fund Servicing for Mellon Global Securities Services. In that capacity, Mr. Connolly was responsible for managing Mellon’s Custody, Fund Accounting and Fund Administration services to third-party mutual fund clients. He is 54 years old and has served in various capacities with the Manager since 1980, including manager of the firm’s Fund Accounting Department from 1997 through October 2001.

54


 

The Fund   55  

 


 

NOTES

56


 



 



 

 

Item 2.                        Code of Ethics.

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.  There have been no amendments to, or waivers in connection with, the Code of Ethics during the period covered by this Report.

Item 3.                        Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Registrant's Board has determined that Ehud Houminer, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board, is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").   Ehud Houminer is "independent" as defined by the SEC for purposes of audit committee financial expert determinations.

Item 4.                        Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)  Audit Fees .  The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years (the "Reporting Periods") for professional services rendered by the Registrant's principal accountant (the "Auditor") for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $37,830 in 2010 and $30,312 in 2011.

 

(b)  Audit-Related Fees . The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item 4 were $5,382 in 2010 and $46,082 in 2011. These services consisted of one or more of the following: (i) agreed upon procedures related to compliance with Internal Revenue Code section 817(h), (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (iii) advisory services as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of Registrant transactions or events, (iv) advisory services to the accounting or disclosure treatment of the actual or potential impact to the Registrant of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies and (v) agreed upon procedures in evaluating compliance by the Fund with provisions of the Fund’s articles supplementary, creating the series of auction rate preferred stock.

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for non-audit assurance and related services by the Auditor to the Registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-investment adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant ("Service Affiliates"), that were reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit of the Service Affiliate, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2010 and $0 in 2011.

 

(c)  Tax Fees .  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning ("Tax Services") were $3,588 in 2010 and $2,731 in 2011. These services consisted of: (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments; (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Tax Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2010 and $0 in 2011. 

 

 


 

 

(d)  All Other Fees .  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item, were $667 in 2010 and $217 in 2011. [These services consisted of a review of the Registrant's anti-money laundering program].

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Non-Audit Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, other than the services reported in paragraphs (b) through (c) of this Item, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee, were  $0 in 2010 and $0 in 2011. 

 

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures . The Registrant's Audit Committee has established policies and procedures (the "Policy") for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of the Auditor's engagements for non-audit services to the Registrant and Service Affiliates without specific case-by-case consideration. The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services.  Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.  Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually.

(e)(2) Note: None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4 were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f) None of the hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal account's full-time, permanent employees.

Non-Audit Fees . The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to Service Affiliates, for the Reporting Periods were $29,311,662 in 2010 and $16,565,389. 

 

Auditor Independence . The Registrant's Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.

 

Item 5.                        Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

The Registrant has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a) (58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, consisting of the following members: Joseph S. DiMartino, David W. Burke, Hodding Carter III, Joni Evans, Ehud Houminer, Richard C. Leone, Hans C. Mautner, Robin A. Melvin, Burton N. Wallack and John E. Zuccotti of applicable. 

Item 6.                        Investments.

(a)                    Not applicable.

Item 7.            Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

                        Not applicable.  [CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY]

Item 8.                        Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

(a) (1) The following information is as of November 29, 2011, the date of the filing of this report:

          James Welch and Daniel A. Barton manages the Registrant. 

 


 

 

(a) (2)  The following information is as of the Registrant’s most recently completed fiscal year, except where otherwise noted:

Portfolio Managers. The Manager manages the Fund's portfolio of investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Fund's Board members.  The Manager is responsible for investment decisions and provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Fund's Board to execute purchases and sales of securities.  The Fund's portfolio managers are James Welch, Steven Harvey and Dan Barton .  The Manager also maintains a research department with a professional staff of portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services for the Fund and for other funds advised by the Manager.

Portfolio Manager Compensation .  The portfolio managers' cash compensation is comprised primarily of a market-based salary and an incentive compensation plan (annual and long term incentive).  Each Fund's portfolio managers are compensated by Dreyfus or its affiliates and not by the Fund.  Funding for Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC (SMAM) Annual Incentive Plan and Long Term Incentive Plan is through a pre-determined fixed percentage of overall company performance.  Therefore, all bonus awards are based initially on SMAM's performance.  The investment professionals are eligible to receive annual cash bonus awards from the incentive compensation plan.  Annual awards are granted in March, for the prior calendar year.  Individual awards for portfolio managers are discretionary, based on product performance relative to both benchmarks and peer comparisons and goals established at the beginning of each calendar year.  Goals are to a substantial degree based on investment performance, including performance for one and three year periods.  Also considered in determining individual awards are team participation and general contributions to SMAM. 

All portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in the SMAM Long Term Incentive Plan.  This plan provides for an annual award, payable in deferred cash that cliff vests after 3 years, with an interest rate equal to the average year over year earnings growth of SMAM (capped at 20% per year).   Management has discretion with respect to actual participation.

Portfolio managers whose compensation exceeds certain levels may elect to defer portions of their base salaries and/or incentive compensation pursuant to BNY Mellon's Elective Deferred Compensation Plan. 

Additional Information About Portfolio Managers .  The following table lists the number and types of other accounts advised by the Fund’s primary portfolio manager and assets under management in those accounts as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year:

 

 

 

Portfolio Manager

Registered Investment Company Accounts 

 

 

Assets Managed

 

 

Pooled Accounts 

 

 

Assets Managed 

 

 

Other Accounts 

 

 

Assets Managed

James Welch

8

$ 4 .876 .2 million

1

472.8 million

142

$ 440 . 2 million

 

  Daniel A. Barton

5

$2,483.4 million

0

0

0

0

 

None of the funds or accounts are subject to a performance-based advisory fee.

 

            The dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the primary portfolio manager are as follows as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year:

 

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Registrant Name

Dollar Range of Registrant

Shares Beneficially Owned

 

James Welch   

 

Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

 

 

None

 

  Daniel A. Barton

  Dreyfus Strategic Municipals, Inc.

   None

 


 

 

             

Portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for a diverse client base, including mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions such as pension funds, insurance companies and foundations), bank common trust accounts and wrap fee programs (“Other Accounts”). 

           

Potential conflicts of interest may arise because of Dreyfus’ management of the Fund and Other Accounts.  For example, conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of limited investment opportunities, as Dreyfus may be perceived as causing accounts it manages to participate in an offering to increase Dreyfus’ overall allocation of securities in that offering, or to increase Dreyfus’ ability to participate in future offerings by the same underwriter or issuer.  Allocations of bunched trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially filled due to limited availability and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as Dreyfus may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to preferred accounts.  Initial public offerings, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability.  Additionally, portfolio managers may be perceived to have a conflict of interest if there are a large number of Other Accounts, in addition to the Fund, that they are managing on behalf of Dreyfus.   Dreyfus periodically reviews each portfolio manager’s overall responsibilities to ensure that he or she is able to allocate the necessary time and resources to effectively manage the Fund.  In addition, Dreyfus could be viewed as having a conflict of interest to the extent that Dreyfus or its affiliates and/or portfolio managers have a materially larger investment in Other Accounts than their investment in the Fund.

 

Other Accounts may have investment objectives, strategies and risks that differ from those of the Fund.  For these or other reasons, the portfolio manager may purchase different securities for the Fund and the Other Accounts, and the performance of securities purchased for the Fund may vary from the performance of securities purchased for Other Accounts.  The portfolio manager may place transactions on behalf of Other Accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made for the Fund, which could have the potential to adversely impact the Fund, depending on market conditions.

 

A potential conflict of interest may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in another account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by the other account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account. 

 

            Dreyfus’ goal is to provide high quality investment services to all of its clients, while meeting Dreyfus’ fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly.  Dreyfus has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures that it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients.  In addition, Dreyfus monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with Fund guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics.  Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Dreyfus periodically review the performance of the portfolio managers for Dreyfus-managed funds.

Item 9.                        Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.

                        Not applicable.  [CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY]

Item 10.          Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures applicable to Item 10.

 


 

 

Item 11.          Controls and Procedures.

(a)        The Registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)        There were no changes to the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Item 12.          Exhibits.

(a)(1)   Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

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

(a)(3)   Not applicable.

(b)        Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers 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.

DREYFUS STRATEGIC MUNICIPALS, INC.

By: /s/ Bradley J. Skapyak

Bradley J. Skapyak,

President

 

Date:

November 22, 2011

 

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/ Bradley J. Skapyak

Bradley J. Skapyak,

President

 

Date:

November 22, 2011

 

By: /s/ James Windels

James Windels,

Treasurer

 

Date:

November 22, 2011

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

(a)(1)   Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(a)(2)   Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  (EX-99.CERT)

(b)        Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  (EX-99.906CERT)

 

 

 

 

 


 
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