nvcsr
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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: 811-09141
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
(Exact Name of registrant as Specified in Charter)
The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Maureen A. Gemma
The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Name and Address of Agent for Services)
(617) 482-8260
(registrant’s Telephone Number)
November 30
Date of Fiscal Year End
November 30, 2008
Date of Reporting Period
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders
Item 2. Code of Ethics
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed registrants
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
Item 12. Exhibits
Signatures
Treasurer's Section 302 Certification
President's Section 302 Certification
Combined Section 906 Certification


Table of Contents

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders

 


Table of Contents

Annual Report November 30,2008
EATON VANCE MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST
(IMAGE)

 


Table of Contents

 
IMPORTANT NOTICES REGARDING PRIVACY,
DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS,
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS AND PROXY VOTING
 
Privacy. The Eaton Vance organization is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. Each of the financial institutions identified below has in effect the following policy (“Privacy Policy”) with respect to nonpublic personal information about its customers:
 
  •  Only such information received from you, through application forms or otherwise, and information about your Eaton Vance fund transactions will be collected. This may include information such as name, address, social security number, tax status, account balances and transactions.
 
  •  None of such information about you (or former customers) will be disclosed to anyone, except as permitted by law (which includes disclosure to employees necessary to service your account). In the normal course of servicing a customer’s account, Eaton Vance may share information with unaffiliated third parties that perform various required services such as transfer agents, custodians and broker/dealers.
 
  •  Policies and procedures (including physical, electronic and procedural safeguards) are in place that are designed to protect the confidentiality of such information.
 
  •  We reserve the right to change our Privacy Policy at any time upon proper notification to you. Customers may want to review our Policy periodically for changes by accessing the link on our homepage: www.eatonvance.com.
 
Our pledge of privacy applies to the following entities within the Eaton Vance organization: the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, Eaton Vance Management, Eaton Vance Investment Counsel, Boston Management and Research, and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
 
In addition, our Privacy Policy only applies to those Eaton Vance customers who are individuals and who have a direct relationship with us. If a customer’s account (i.e., fund shares) is held in the name of a third-party financial adviser/brokerdealer, it is likely that only such adviser’s privacy policies apply to the customer. This notice supersedes all previously issued privacy disclosures.
 
For more information about Eaton Vance’s Privacy Policy, please call 1-800-262-1122.
 
 
 
 
Delivery of Shareholder Documents. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) permits funds to deliver only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, proxy statements and shareholder reports, to fund investors with multiple accounts at the same residential or post office box address. This practice is often called “householding” and it helps eliminate duplicate mailings to shareholders.
 
Eaton Vance, or your financial adviser, may household the mailing of your documents indefinitely unless you instruct Eaton Vance, or your financial adviser, otherwise.
 
If you would prefer that your Eaton Vance documents not be householded, please contact Eaton Vance at 1-800-262-1122, or contact your financial adviser.
 
Your instructions that householding not apply to delivery of your Eaton Vance documents will be effective within 30 days of receipt by Eaton Vance or your financial adviser.
 
 
 
 
Portfolio Holdings. Each Eaton Vance Fund and its underlying Portfolio (if applicable) will file a schedule of its portfolio holdings on Form N-Q with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Form N-Q will be available on the Eaton Vance website www.eatonvance.com, by calling Eaton Vance at 1-800-262-1122 or in the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Form N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. (call 1-800-732-0330 for information on the operation of the public reference room).
 
 
 
 
Proxy Voting. From time to time, funds are required to vote proxies related to the securities held by the funds. The Eaton Vance Funds or their underlying Portfolios (if applicable) vote proxies according to a set of policies and procedures approved by the Funds’ and Portfolios’ Boards. You may obtain a description of these policies and procedures and information on how the Funds or Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122. This description is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust (the “Trust”) is a closed-end Trust, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EVN,” designed to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax. This income is earned by investing primarily in investment-grade municipal securities.
Economic and Market Conditions
Economic growth in the third quarter of 2008 retracted 0.3%, down from a positive second quarter growth rate of 2.8%, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Most of the major Gross Domestic Product (GDP) components led to the decline; however, most influential was a sharp downturn in personal consumption expenditures by consumers, a factor which has continued to weigh on the economy during the first two months of the fourth quarter of 2008. While high commodity prices have mitigated since their summertime peaks, management believes consumers continued to pare costs as they remained cautious of what increasingly has become a weaker economic environment. Rising unemployment levels, now at a five-year high, have led to constrained personal consumption and overall economic contraction. The housing market continues to weigh on the economy, with new home sales continuing to fall and existing home sales beginning to stabilize only as cautious buyers begin to see value in distressed pricing. Low home prices continue to pressure consumers and banks, causing increased bank foreclosures and more mark-to-market write downs of mortgage-backed securities at commercial banks and financial institutions.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the capital markets have experienced historic events resulting in unprecedented volatility. During September 2008, for example, the federal government took control of federally-chartered mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. During the same month, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection and Merrill Lynch was acquired by Bank of America. Also in September 2008, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley petitioned the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) to become bank holding companies, a step which brings greater regulation but also easier access to credit. These actions, in conjunction with Bear Stearns’ acquisition by JP Morgan in March 2008, drastically redefined the Wall Street landscape. In addition to the independent Wall Street brokerages, the banking sector was shaken by the failure of Washington Mutual and the sale of Wachovia. In the insurance sector, the federal government provided more than $85 billion in loans to help stabilize American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Finally, the U.S. Congress approved a $700 billion program authorizing the federal government to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions, a program which has continued to evolve since its passing.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Fed lowered the Federal Funds rate to 1.00% from as high as 5.25% in the summer of 2007. In addition to its interest rate policy, the Fed has also taken extraordinary action through a variety of innovative lending techniques in an attempt to facilitate an easing of the credit crisis.
Management Discussion
The Trust invests primarily in bonds with stated maturities of 10 years or longer, as longer-maturity bonds historically have provided greater tax-exempt income for investors than shorter-maturity bonds.
Relative to its primary benchmark, the Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Index1 (the “Index”) — a broad-based, unmanaged index of municipal bonds — the Trust underperformed for the year ended November 30, 2008. As a result of an active management style that focuses on income and longer call protection, the Trust generally holds longer-maturity bonds. Management believes that much of the Trust’s underperformance can be attributed to the shift of investors’ capital into shorter-maturity bonds, a result of the broader-based credit crisis that has rattled the fixed-income markets since the summer of 2007. This underperformance was magnified by the Trust’s use

Trust shares are not insured by the FDIC and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any depository institution. Shares are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal invested.
 
1   Formerly called Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index. It is not possible to invest directly in an Index. The Index’s total return does not reflect expenses that would have been incurred if an investor individually purchased or sold the securities represented in the Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The views expressed throughout this report are those of the portfolio manager and are current only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. These views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions, and the investment adviser disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a fund are based on many factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Eaton Vance fund. Portfolio information provided in the report may not be representative of the Trust’s current or future investments and may change due to active management.

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Table of Contents

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
of leverage and leveraged investments. The move to shorter-term investments was originally driven by uncertainty surrounding financial companies’ exposure to subprime mortgage-backed debt but later spread to the municipal market when major municipal bond insurers suffered rating downgrades due to their exposure to mortgage-related structured products.
The ratio of yields on current coupon AAA-rated insured municipal bonds to the yield on 30-year Treasury bonds was 157% as of November 30, 2008, with many individual municipal bonds trading at higher ratios.1 Management believes that this was the result of continued dislocation in the fixed-income marketplace caused by a flight to Treasury securities, municipal bond insurance companies’ mark-to-market risks and the decentralized nature of the municipal marketplace. Historically, this is a rare occurrence in the municipal bond market and is generally considered a signal that municipal bonds are significantly undervalued relative to taxable Treasury bonds.
Against this backdrop, management continues to manage all of its municipal funds with the same relative value approach that it has traditionally employed — maintaining a long-term perspective when markets exhibit extreme short-term volatility. We believe this approach has provided excellent long-term benefits to our investors over time.
A Note Regarding Auction Preferred Shares (APS)
As has been widely reported since mid-February 2008, the normal functioning of the auction market in the United States for certain types of “auction rate securities” has been disrupted by an imbalance between buy and sell orders. Consistent with patterns in the broader market for auction rate securities, the Trust has, since mid-February, experienced unsuccessful APS auctions. In the event of an unsuccessful auction, the affected APS remain outstanding, and the dividend rate reverts to the specified maximum payable rate.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Trust redeemed a portion of its outstanding APS. Information relating to redemptions is contained in Note 2 to the Financial Statements. The replacement financing for the redeemed APS was provided through the creation of tender option bonds (TOBs).2 The cost to the Trust of the new TOB financing is expected, over time, to be lower than the total cost of APS based on the maximum applicable dividend rates. The Trust’s APS percentage (i.e., APS at liquidation value as a percentage of the Trust’s net assets applicable to common shares plus APS) as of November 30, 2008 is reflected on page 3. The leverage created by APS and TOB investments provides an opportunity for increased income but, at the same time, creates special risks (including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and share price of the common shares).
From December 17, 2008 through December 19, 2008, after the end of the reporting period, the Trust voluntarily redeemed a portion of its outstanding APS to reduce the amount of the Trust’s financial leverage. Information relating to these redemptions is contained in Note 13 to the Financial Statements.
 
1   Source: Bloomberg L.P. Yields are a compilation of a representative variety of general obligations and are not necessarily representative of a Trust’s yield.
 
2   Source: See Note 1H to Financial Statements for more information on TOB investments.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

         
Trust Performance1    
NYSE Symbol   EVN
 
Average Annual Total Returns (by share price)
       
One Year
    -32.13 %
Five Years
    -5.44  
Life of Trust (1/29/99)
    0.87  
 
       
Average Annual Total Returns (by net asset value)
       
One Year
    -39.72 %
Five Years
    -4.35  
Life of Trust (1/29/99)
    0.45  
 
       
Premium/(Discount) to NAV
    4.19 %
 
       
Market Yields
       
 
       
Market Yield2
    9.94 %
Taxable Equivalent Market Yield3
    15.29  
Index Performance4Average Annual Total Returns
                 
    Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Index   Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Long 22+ Index
 
One Year
    -3.61 %     -15.21 %
Five Years
    2.58       0.94  
Life of Trust (1/31/99)
    4.05       3.26  
Lipper Averages5 Average Annual Total Returns
         
Lipper General Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged) Classification (by net asset value)
 
One Year
    -20.85 %
Five Years
    -0.68  
Life of Trust (1/31/99)
    2.46  

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value or share price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, the Trust’s current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted return. For performance as of the most recent month end, please refer to www.eatonvance.com.
Portfolio Manager: Thomas M. Metzold, CFA
Rating Distribution*6

By total investments
(PIE CHART)
 
*   The rating distribution presented above includes the ratings of securities held by special purpose vehicles in which the Trust holds a residual interest. See Note 1H to the Trust’s financial statements. Absent such securities, the Trust’s rating distribution at November 30, 2008, is as follows, and the average rating is A-:
     
AAA
  22.6%
AA
  24.1%
A
  10.8%
BBB
  13.7%
BB
  5.0%
B
  7.3%
CCC
  1.1%
Not Rated
  15.4%
Trust Statistics7
     
Number of Issues:
  138
Average Maturity:
  25.1 years
Average Effective Maturity:
  22.4 years
Average Call Protection:
  9.0 years
Average Dollar Price:
  $71.99
APS Leverage:**
  38.4 %
TOB Leverage:**
  12.7 %
 
**   APS leverage represents the liquidation value of the Trust’s Auction Preferred Shares (APS) outstanding at 11/30/08 as a percentage of the Trust’s net assets applicable to common shares plus APS and TOB Floating Rate Notes. TOB leverage represents the amount of Floating Rate Notes outstanding at 11/30/08 as a percentage of the Trust’s net assets applicable to common shares plus APS and Floating Rate Notes. Floating Rate Notes in both calculations reflect the effect of TOBs purchased in secondary market transactions.
 
1   Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in share price or net asset value (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested. The Trust’s performance at market share price will differ from its results at NAV. Although share price performance generally reflects investment results over time, during shorter periods, returns at share price can also be affected by factors such as changing perceptions about the Trust, market conditions, fluctuations in supply and demand for the Trust’s shares, or changes in Trust distributions. Performance results reflect the effects of APS outstanding and TOB investments, which are forms of investment leverage. Use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased income but, at the same time, creates special risks (including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of common shares). 2 The Trust’s market yield is calculated by dividing the last dividend paid per common share of the fiscal year by the share price at the end of the fiscal year and annualizing the result. 3 Taxable-equivalent figure assumes a maximum 35.00% federal income tax rate. A lower tax rate would result in a lower tax-equivalent figure. 4 Formerly called Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index and Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Long 22+ Index, respectively. It is not possible to invest directly in an Index. The Indices’ total returns do not reflect the expenses that would have been incurred if an investor individually purchased or sold the securities represented in the Indices. Index performance is available as of month end only. 5 The Lipper Averages are the average annual total returns, at net asset value, of the funds that are in the same Lipper Classification as the Trust. It is not possible to invest in a Lipper Classification. Lipper Classifications may include insured and uninsured funds, as well as leveraged and unleveraged funds. The Lipper General Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged) Classification (closed-end) contained 60, 59 and 42 funds for the 1-year, 5-year and Life-of-Trust time periods, respectively. Lipper Averages are available as of month end only. 6 Rating Distribution is determined by dividing the total market value of the issues by the total investments of the Trust. Although the investment adviser considers ratings when making investment decisions, it performs its own credit and investment analysis and does not rely primarily on the ratings assigned by the rating services. Credit quality can change from time to time, and recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular security or the issuer’s current financial condition. 7 Trust holdings information excludes securities held by special purpose vehicles in which the Trust holds a residual interest. See Note 1H to the Trust’s financial statements.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
 
                     
Tax-Exempt Investments — 209.8%
Principal Amount
               
(000’s omitted)       Security   Value      
 
 
 
Cogeneration — 1.8%
 
$ 2,950     Maryland Energy Cogeneration, (AES Warrior Run), (AMT), 7.40%, 9/1/19   $ 2,480,006      
 
 
            $ 2,480,006      
 
 
 
Education — 9.7%
 
$ 9,000     California Educational Facilities Authority, (Stanford University), 5.25%, 12/1/32(1)   $ 9,034,245      
  735     California Educational Facilities Authority, (Stanford University), 5.25%, 12/1/32     737,793      
  3,430     Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, (Boston University), 5.45%, 5/15/59     3,021,761      
  810     Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp., (University of Rhode Island), 6.25%, 9/15/34     777,892      
 
 
            $ 13,571,691      
 
 
 
Electric Utilities — 7.6%
 
$ 1,300     Brazos River Authority, TX, Pollution Control Revenue, (Texas Energy Co.), (AMT), 5.40%, 5/1/29   $ 669,994      
  2,000     Brazos River Authority, TX, Pollution Control Revenue, (Texas Energy Co.), (AMT), 6.75%, 4/1/38     1,670,740      
  3,300     Brazos River Authority, TX, Pollution Control Revenue, (Texas Energy Co.), (AMT), 8.25%, 5/1/33     2,372,007      
  1,000     Energy Northwest Electric Revenue, WA, (Columbia Station), 5.00%, 7/1/24(2)     979,810      
  3,400     Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, (Reliant Energy, Inc.), (AMT), 6.75%, 12/1/36     2,122,314      
  2,550     Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, (Reliant Energy, Inc.), (AMT), 6.75%, 12/1/36     1,591,735      
  1,000     Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, (Reliant Energy, Inc.), Series A, (AMT), 6.75%, 12/1/36     624,210      
  800     Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, 5.00%, 7/1/37     586,336      
 
 
            $ 10,617,146      
 
 
 
Escrowed/Prerefunded — 2.1%
 
$ 1,400     Mesquite, TX, Health Facilities Authority, (Christian Retirement Facility), Prerefunded to 2/15/10, 7.625%, 2/15/28   $ 1,509,438      
  1,290     Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., NJ, Prerefunded to 6/1/13, 6.75%, 6/1/39(2)     1,511,261      
 
 
            $ 3,020,699      
 
 
 
General Obligations — 3.0%
 
$ 1,595     California, (AMT), 5.05%, 12/1/36   $ 1,234,865      
  1,000     Cypress-Fairbanks, TX, Independent School District, 4.50%, 2/15/25(2)     907,540      
  2,350     Port Authority of Houston, TX, (Harris County), (AMT), 5.625%, 10/1/38(1)     2,120,170      
  5     Port Authority of Houston, TX, (Harris County), (AMT), 5.625%, 10/1/38     4,511      
 
 
            $ 4,267,086      
 
 
 
Health Care-Miscellaneous — 1.3%
 
$ 381     Tax Revenue Exempt Securities Trust, Community Health Provider, (Pooled Loan Program Various States Trust Certificates), 6.00%, 12/1/36(3)   $ 390,445      
  1,007     Tax Revenue Exempt Securities Trust, Community Health Provider, (Pooled Loan Program Various States Trust Certificates), 6.25%, 12/1/36(3)     1,031,747      
  382     Tax Revenue Exempt Securities Trust, Community Health Provider, (Pooled Loan Program Various States Trust Certificates), 7.75%, 12/1/36(3)     391,796      
 
 
            $ 1,813,988      
 
 
 
Hospital — 16.2%
 
$ 600     Camden County, NJ, Improvement Authority, (Cooper Health System), 5.00%, 2/15/25   $ 447,954      
  1,260     Camden County, NJ, Improvement Authority, (Cooper Health System), 5.00%, 2/15/35     838,278      
  1,200     Camden County, NJ, Improvement Authority, (Cooper Health System), 5.25%, 2/15/27     906,324      
  740     Chautauqua County, NY, Industrial Development Agency, (Women’s Christian Association), 6.35%, 11/15/17     640,337      
  975     Chautauqua County, NY, Industrial Development Agency, (Women’s Christian Association), 6.40%, 11/15/29     734,760      
  1,390     Idaho Health Facilities Authority, (Trinity Health Credit Group), 6.25%, 12/1/33     1,359,920      
  1,955     Knox County, TN, Health, Educational and Housing Facilities Board, (Covenant Health), 0.00%, 1/1/38     195,696      
  5,000     Knox County, TN, Health, Educational and Housing Facilities Board, (Covenant Health), 0.00%, 1/1/39     461,100      
  7,590     Knox County, TN, Health, Educational and Housing Facilities Board, (Covenant Health), 0.00%, 1/1/42     551,869      
  800     Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, (Ochsner Clinic Foundation), Prerefunded to 5/15/26,
5.50%, 5/15/32
    851,512      
  2,575     Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, (Tuoro Infirmary), 5.625%, 8/15/29     1,920,100      
  2,000     Martin County, MN, (Fairmont Community Hospital Association), 6.625%, 9/1/22     1,711,100      
  1,625     Massachusetts Health & Educational Facilities Authority, (Caregroup, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/28     1,167,351      
  2,440     Massachusetts Health & Educational Facilities Authority, (Caregroup, Inc.), 5.125%, 7/1/33     1,699,240      
  255     Mecosta County, MI, (Michigan General Hospital), 5.75%, 5/15/09     253,952      
 
 
See notes to financial statements

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Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS CONT’D
 
                     
Principal Amount
               
(000’s omitted)       Security   Value      
 
 
Hospital (continued)
 
                     
  2,500     Mecosta County, MI, (Michigan General Hospital), 6.00%, 5/15/18     2,104,075      
  1,150     New York Dormitory Authority, (Orange Regional Medical Center), 6.125%, 12/1/29     887,789      
  2,295     New York Dormitory Authority, (Orange Regional Medical Center), 6.25%, 12/1/37     1,708,054      
  5,000     North Central, TX, Health Facility Development Corp., (Baylor Healthcare System),
5.125%, 5/15/29(8)
    4,357,900      
 
 
            $ 22,797,311      
 
 
 
Housing — 31.2%
 
$ 1,300     California Housing Finance Agency, (AMT),
4.75%, 8/1/42
  $ 882,817      
  410     California Housing Finance Agency, (AMT), Variable Rate, 11.867%, 8/1/38(3)(4)(5)     48,655      
  4,870     California Rural Home Mortgage Finance Authority, (AMT), 5.50%, 8/1/47     3,853,728      
  4,000     Charter Mac Equity Trust, TN, 6.00%, 4/30/19(3)     3,976,560      
  4,000     Charter Mac Equity Trust, TN, 6.625%, 6/30/09(3)     4,080,480      
  2,100     Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, (Birchwood Manor Project), (AMT), 5.50%, 9/20/36     1,713,978      
  4,715     Delaware Housing Authority, (Senior Single Family Mortgage Revenue), (AMT), 5.30%, 1/1/49     3,597,168      
  1,425     Fairfax County, VA, Redevelopment and Housing Authority, (Cedar Ridge), (AMT), 4.85%, 10/1/48     982,794      
  3,135     Georgia Housing and Finance Authority, (AMT), 5.25%, 12/1/37     2,451,350      
  1,560     Lake Creek, CO, Affordable Housing Corp., Multi-family, 7.00%, 12/1/23     1,394,484      
  4,000     Muni Mae Tax-Exempt Bond, LLC,
6.875%, 6/30/49(3)
    4,016,280      
  4,480     New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, (Santa Fe Senior Housing LLC), (FNMA), (AMT),
4.70%, 8/1/45
    3,104,506      
  2,620     North Little Rock, AR, Residential Housing Facilities, (Parkstone Place), 6.50%, 8/1/21     2,339,817      
  3,545     Ohio Housing Finance Agency, (Residential Mortgage Backed Securities), (FNMA), (GNMA), (AMT), 4.75%, 3/1/37     2,469,589      
  3,325     Oregon Health Authority, (Trillium Affordable Housing), (AMT), 6.75%, 2/15/29     2,795,793      
  4,410     Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, (AMT), 4.70%, 10/1/37     3,037,520      
  3,300     Texas Student Housing Corp., (University of Northern Texas), 6.75%, 7/1/16     3,020,127      
 
 
            $ 43,765,646      
 
 
 
Industrial Development Revenue — 33.4%
 
$ 1,679     ABIA Development Corp., TX, (Austin CargoPort Development), (AMT), 6.50%, 10/1/24   $ 1,307,961      
  3,600     Brazos River, TX, Harbor Navigation District, (Dow Chemical Co.), (AMT), 5.95%, 5/15/33     2,647,728      
  1,417     Broward County, FL, (Lynxs Cargoport), (AMT), 6.75%, 6/1/19     1,188,158      
  2,250     California Pollution Control Financing Authority, (Browning Ferris Industry), (AMT), 6.875%, 11/1/27     1,774,598      
  1,300     California Pollution Control Financing Authority, (Solid Waste Disposal), (AMT), 5.40%, 4/1/25     943,280      
  12,000     Cartersville, GA, Development Authority Sewer and Solid Waste Disposal Facility, (Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc.), (AMT), 5.50%, 3/1/44     8,489,640      
  1,775     Denver, CO, City and County Special Facilities, (United Airlines), (AMT), 5.25%, 10/1/32     923,941      
  4,430     Denver, CO, City and County Special Facilities, (United Airlines), (AMT), 5.75%, 10/1/32     2,296,955      
  2,500     Gulf Coast, TX, Waste Disposal Authority, (Valero Energy Corp.), (AMT), 5.70%, 4/1/32     1,588,125      
  9,240     Liberty Development Corp., NY, (Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.), 5.25%, 10/1/35     6,713,599      
  6,000     New Jersey Economic Development Authority, (Continental Airlines), (AMT), 6.25%, 9/15/29     3,078,420      
  1,300     New York, NY, Industrial Development Agency, (American Airlines, Inc. - JFK International Airport), (AMT), 7.75%, 8/1/31     898,248      
  6,000     New York, NY, Industrial Development Agency, (American Airlines, Inc. - JFK International Airport), (AMT), 8.00%, 8/1/28     4,322,940      
  3,500     New York, NY, Industrial Development Agency, (American Airlines, Inc. - JFK International Airport), (AMT), 8.50%, 8/1/28     2,655,730      
  4,350     Phoenix, AZ, Industrial Development Authority, (America West Airlines, Inc.), (AMT), 6.25%, 6/1/19     2,970,267      
  2,110     Savannah, GA, Economic Development Authority, (Intercat-Savannah), (AMT), 7.00%, 1/1/38     1,566,063      
  5,390     St. John Baptist Parish, LA, (Marathon Oil Corp.), 5.125%, 6/1/37     3,446,851      
 
 
            $ 46,812,504      
 
 
 
Insured-Escrowed/Prerefunded — 5.7%
 
$ 7,380     Puerto Rico, (FSA), Prerefunded to 7/01/11, 5.25%, 7/1/27   $ 7,972,024      
 
 
            $ 7,972,024      
 
 
 
Insured-General Obligations — 9.9%
 
$ 9,990     Puerto Rico, (AGC), 5.50%, 7/1/29(1)   $ 9,516,840      
  4,620     Puerto Rico, (FSA), 5.25%, 7/1/27     4,318,037      
 
 
            $ 13,834,877      
 
 
 
 
See notes to financial statements

5


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS CONT’D
 
                     
Principal Amount
               
(000’s omitted)       Security   Value      
 
 
 
Insured-Hospital — 15.8%
 
$ 16,820     Kentucky Economic Development Authority, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), (MBIA), 0.00%, 10/1/25   $ 5,019,929      
  19,165     Kentucky Economic Development Authority, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), (MBIA), 0.00%, 10/1/26     5,296,056      
  8,590     Kentucky Economic Development Authority, (Norton Healthcare, Inc.), (MBIA), 0.00%, 10/1/27     2,188,732      
  10,000     New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Meridian Health Center), Series I, (AGC), 5.00%, 7/1/38(1)     9,004,400      
  750     New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, (Meridian Health Center), Series V, (AGC), 5.00%, 7/1/38(1)     675,330      
 
 
            $ 22,184,447      
 
 
 
Insured-Industrial Development Revenue — 0.4%
 
$ 870     Clark County, NV, Industrial Development, (Southwest Gas Corp.), (FGIC), (AMT),
5.00%, 12/1/33
  $ 511,081      
 
 
            $ 511,081      
 
 
 
Insured-Other Revenue — 1.0%
 
$ 4,210     Harris County-Houston, TX, Sports Authority, (MBIA), 0.00%, 11/15/34   $ 535,722      
  1,000     Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, (Louisville Arena), (AGC), 6.00%, 12/1/42     933,740      
 
 
            $ 1,469,462      
 
 
 
Insured-Special Tax Revenue — 10.3%
 
$ 30,000     Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, IL, (McCormick Place Expansion), (MBIA),
0.00%, 12/15/29
  $ 8,298,600      
  3,775     New York Convention Center Development Corp., Hotel Occupancy Tax, (AMBAC), 4.75%, 11/15/45     2,941,669      
  37,800     Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing, (AMBAC),
0.00%, 8/1/54
    1,311,282      
  6,160     Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing, (MBIA),
0.00%, 8/1/44
    488,858      
  12,215     Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing, (MBIA),
0.00%, 8/1/45
    900,001      
  7,685     Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing, (MBIA),
0.00%, 8/1/46
    524,347      
 
 
            $ 14,464,757      
 
 
 
Insured-Student Loan — 5.9%
 
$ 7,940     Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, (AMBAC), (AMT), 4.70%, 1/1/33   $ 5,543,549      
  3,000     New Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority, (AGC), 6.125%, 6/1/30     2,777,640      
 
 
            $ 8,321,189      
 
 
 
Insured-Transportation — 19.4%
 
$ 12,425     Alameda, CA, Corridor Transportation Authority, (MBIA), 0.00%, 10/1/33   $ 2,477,793      
  3,500     Chicago, IL, (O’Hare International Airport), (AMBAC), (AMT), 5.375%, 1/1/32     2,703,365      
  960     Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, International Airport, (MBIA), (AMT), 6.10%, 11/1/24     875,453      
  375     Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, International Airport, (MBIA), (AMT), 6.25%, 11/1/28     338,681      
  5,500     Director of the State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry, (Las Vegas Monorail), (AMBAC), 5.375%, 1/1/40     3,224,485      
  1,000     Director of the State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry, (Las Vegas Monorail), (AMBAC), 5.625%, 1/1/32     589,560      
  25,500     E-470 Public Highway Authority, CO, (MBIA), 0.00%, 3/1/36     3,393,795      
  6,600     E-470 Public Highway Authority, CO, (MBIA), 0.00%, 9/1/39     647,988      
  3,140     Miami-Dade County, FL, Aviation Revenue, (Miami International Airport), (FSA), (AMT), 5.25%, 10/1/41     2,361,657      
  2,050     New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, (AGC), 5.25%, 12/15/38     1,951,744      
  9,820     Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, (AGC), (CIFG), 5.25%, 7/1/41(1)     8,582,140      
 
 
            $ 27,146,661      
 
 
 
Lease Revenue/Certificates of Participation — 1.9%
 
$ 2,750     Mohave County, AZ, Industrial Development Authority, (Mohave Prison LLC), 8.00%, 5/1/25   $ 2,653,117      
 
 
            $ 2,653,117      
 
 
 
Nursing Home — 1.1%
 
$ 2,000     Orange County, FL, Health Facilities Authority, (Westminster Community Care), 6.75%, 4/1/34   $ 1,602,360      
 
 
            $ 1,602,360      
 
 
 
Other Revenue — 15.3%
 
$ 42,190     Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority, 0.00%, 6/1/47   $ 931,977      
  1,955     Central Falls, RI, Detention Facility Revenue, 7.25%, 7/15/35     1,642,513      
  1,535     Main Street National Gas, Inc., GA, Gas Project Revenue, 5.50%, 9/15/27     1,106,336      
 
 
See notes to financial statements

6


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS CONT’D
 
                     
Principal Amount
               
(000’s omitted)       Security   Value      
 
 
Other Revenue (continued)
 
                     
  6,600     Michigan Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority, 6.00%, 6/1/48     4,185,852      
  1,350     Michigan Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority, 6.875%, 6/1/42     983,327      
  1,500     Mohegan Tribe Indians Gaming Authority, CT, (Public Improvements), 6.25%, 1/1/21(3)     1,240,110      
  2,300     Northern Tobacco Securitization Corp., AK,
0.00%, 6/1/46
    50,393      
  195     Otero County, NM, Jail Project Revenue,
5.50%, 4/1/13
    177,655      
  360     Otero County, NM, Jail Project Revenue,
5.75%, 4/1/18
    305,255      
  100     Otero County, NM, Jail Project Revenue,
6.00%, 4/1/23
    80,550      
  110     Otero County, NM, Jail Project Revenue,
6.00%, 4/1/28
    82,919      
  8,000     Salt Verde, AZ, Financial Corporation, Senior Gas Revenue, 5.00%, 12/1/37     5,101,600      
  2,000     Seminole Tribe, FL, Special Obligation Revenue, 5.25%, 10/1/27(3)     1,466,780      
  1,365     Seminole Tribe, FL, Special Obligation Revenue, 5.50%, 10/1/24(3)     1,067,648      
  6,905     Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., VA,
0.00%, 6/1/47
    153,636      
  2,950     Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., VA,
5.00%, 6/1/47
    1,583,176      
  1,415     White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians, MN, 6.375%, 12/1/26(3)     1,021,602      
  295     Willacy County, TX, Local Government Corp.,
6.00%, 9/1/10
    281,654      
 
 
            $ 21,462,983      
 
 
 
Senior Living/Life Care — 4.4%
 
$ 3,210     Cliff House Trust, PA, (AMT), 6.625%, 6/1/27(6)   $ 2,052,538      
  3,240     Logan County, CO, Industrial Development, (TLC Care Choices, Inc.), 6.875%, 12/1/23(7)     2,226,366      
  2,990     Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, (Linden Ponds, Inc.), 5.75%, 11/15/42     1,843,305      
 
 
            $ 6,122,209      
 
 
 
Special Tax Revenue — 3.8%
 
$ 3,280     Bell Mountain Ranch, CO, Metropolitan District, 6.625%, 11/15/25   $ 2,700,818      
  190     Longleaf, FL, Community Development District, 6.20%, 5/1/09     188,157      
  1,150     New Jersey Economic Development Authority, (Cigarette Tax), 5.50%, 6/15/24     851,322      
  2,115     New Jersey Economic Development Authority, (Cigarette Tax), 5.75%, 6/15/29     1,530,266      
 
 
            $ 5,270,563      
 
 
 
Transportation — 6.9%
 
$ 1,500     Augusta, GA, (AMT), 5.35%, 1/1/28   $ 1,071,765      
  915     Branson, MO, Regional Airport Transportation Development District, (Branson Airport LLC), (AMT), 6.00%, 7/1/25     652,148      
  2,670     Branson, MO, Regional Airport Transportation Development District, (Branson Airport LLC), (AMT), 6.00%, 7/1/37     1,743,403      
  7,290     Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, (AMT), 5.75%, 3/15/35(1)     6,200,655      
  10     Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, (AMT), 5.75%, 3/15/35     8,506      
 
 
            $ 9,676,477      
 
 
 
Water and Sewer — 1.7%
 
$ 3,405     Massachusetts Water Resources Authority,
4.00%, 8/1/46(8)
  $ 2,356,260      
 
 
            $ 2,356,260      
 
 
     
Total Tax-Exempt Investments — 209.8%
   
(identified cost $373,868,250)
  $ 294,194,544      
 
 
             
Auction Preferred Shares Plus Cumulative Unpaid Dividends — (78.3)%
  $ (109,868,987 )    
 
 
             
Other Assets, Less Liabilities — (31.5)%
  $ (44,071,914 )    
 
 
             
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares — 100.0%
  $ 140,253,643      
 
 
 
AGC - Assured Guaranty Corp.
 
AMBAC - AMBAC Financial Group, Inc.
 
AMT - Interest earned from these securities may be considered a tax preference item for purposes of the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax.
 
CIFG - CIFG Assurance North America, Inc.
 
FGIC - Financial Guaranty Insurance Company
 
FNMA - Federal National Mortgage Association
 
FSA - Financial Security Assurance, Inc.
 
GNMA - Government National Mortgage Association
 
MBIA - Municipal Bond Insurance Association
 
At November 30, 2008, the concentration of the Fund’s investments in the various states and territories, determined as a percentage of total investments, is as follows:
 
         
Puerto Rico
    11.6 %
Others, representing less than 10% individually
    88.4 %
 
 
See notes to financial statements

7


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS CONT’D
 
The Fund invests primarily in debt securities issued by municipalities. The ability of the issuers of the debt securities to meet their obligations may be affected by economic developments in a specific industry or municipality. In order to reduce the risk associated with such economic developments, at November 30, 2008, 32.6% of total investments are backed by bond insurance of various financial institutions and financial guaranty assurance agencies. The aggregate percentage insured by an individual financial institution ranged from 0.2% to 11.4% of total investments.
 
(1) Security represents the underlying municipal bond of a tender option bond trust (see Note 1H).
 
(2) Security (or a portion thereof) has been segregated to cover margin requirements on open financial futures contracts.
 
(3) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be sold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At November 30, 2008, the aggregate value of these securities is $18,732,103 or 13.4% of the Fund’s net assets applicable to common shares.
 
(4) Security has been issued as a leveraged inverse floater bond. The stated interest rate represents the rate in effect at November 30, 2008.
 
(5) Security is subject to a shortfall agreement which may require the Fund to pay amounts to a counterparty in the event of a significant decline in the market value of the security underlying the inverse floater. In case of a shortfall, the maximum potential amount of payments the Fund could ultimately be required to make under the agreement is $1,640,000. However, such shortfall payment would be reduced by the proceeds from the sale of the security underlying the inverse floater.
 
(6) Security is in default with respect to scheduled principal payments.
 
(7) Security is in default and is making only partial interest payments.
 
(8) Security has been pledged as collateral for open swap contracts or inverse floating rate security transactions.
 
 
See notes to financial statements

8


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 
             
As of November 30, 2008          
 
Assets
 
Investments, at value (identified cost, $373,868,250)
  $ 294,194,544      
Interest receivable
    6,155,435      
Receivable for investments sold
    4,585,328      
Deferred debt issuance costs
    47,541      
 
 
Total assets
  $ 304,982,848      
 
 
             
             
 
Liabilities
 
Payable for floating rate notes issued
  $ 34,690,000      
Payable for investments purchased
    12,532,880      
Payable for variation margin on open financial futures contracts
    337,500      
Payable for open swap contracts
    4,120,198      
Due to custodian
    2,452,379      
Payable to affiliates:
           
Investment adviser fee
    165,572      
Administration fee
    47,306      
Trustees’ fees
    11,565      
Interest expense and fees payable
    344,283      
Accrued expenses
    158,535      
 
 
Total liabilities
  $ 54,860,218      
 
 
Auction preferred shares (4,394 shares outstanding) at liquidation value plus cumulative unpaid dividends
  $ 109,868,987      
 
 
Net assets applicable to common shares
  $ 140,253,643      
 
 
             
             
 
Sources of Net Assets
 
Common shares, $0.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized
  $ 172,922      
Additional paid-in capital
    243,434,286      
Accumulated net realized loss
    (19,296,080 )    
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
    2,045,502      
Net unrealized depreciation
    (86,102,987 )    
 
 
Net assets applicable to common shares
  $ 140,253,643      
 
 
             
             
 
Common Shares Outstanding
 
      17,292,177      
 
 
             
             
 
Net Asset Value Per Common Share
 
Net assets applicable to common shares ¸ common shares issued and outstanding
  $ 8.11      
 
 
 
 
Statement of Operations
 
             
For the Year Ended
         
November 30, 2008          
 
Investment Income
 
Interest
  $ 23,938,304      
 
 
Total investment income
  $ 23,938,304      
 
 
             
             
 
Expenses
 
Investment adviser fee
  $ 2,446,303      
Administration fee
    698,944      
Trustees’ fees and expenses
    11,996      
Custodian fee
    248,727      
Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees
    41,086      
Legal and accounting services
    91,230      
Printing and postage
    50,668      
Interest expense and fees
    1,598,066      
Preferred shares service fee
    312,332      
Miscellaneous
    95,089      
 
 
Total expenses
  $ 5,594,441      
 
 
Deduct —
           
Reduction of custodian fee
  $ 36,927      
 
 
Total expense reductions
  $ 36,927      
 
 
             
Net expenses
  $ 5,557,514      
 
 
             
Net investment income
  $ 18,380,790      
 
 
             
             
 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
 
Net realized gain (loss) —
           
Investment transactions
  $ 3,483,522      
Financial futures contracts
    (7,746,414 )    
Swap contracts
    (2,620,820 )    
 
 
Net realized loss
  $ (6,883,712 )    
 
 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) —
           
Investments
  $ (95,920,283 )    
Financial futures contracts
    (2,779,160 )    
Swap contracts
    (2,400,483 )    
 
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
  $ (101,099,926 )    
 
 
             
Net realized and unrealized loss
  $ (107,983,638 )    
 
 
Distributions to preferred shareholders —
           
From net investment income
  $ (4,438,397 )    
 
 
             
Net decrease in net assets from operations
  $ (94,041,245 )    
 
 
 
 
See notes to financial statements

9


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 
                     
Increase (Decrease)
  Year Ended
    Year Ended
     
in Net Assets   November 30, 2008     November 30, 2007      
 
 
From operations —
                   
Net investment income
  $ 18,380,790     $ 18,476,810      
Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions, financial futures contracts and swap contracts
    (6,883,712 )     2,436,194      
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments, financial futures contracts and swap contracts
    (101,099,926 )     (28,611,494 )    
Distributions to preferred shareholders —
                   
From net investment income
    (4,438,397 )     (4,775,158 )    
 
 
Net decrease in net assets from operations
  $ (94,041,245 )   $ (12,473,648 )    
 
 
Distributions to common shareholders —
                   
From net investment income
  $ (13,895,574 )   $ (13,567,834 )    
 
 
Total distributions to common shareholders
  $ (13,895,574 )   $ (13,567,834 )    
 
 
Capital share transactions —
                   
Reinvestment of distributions to common shareholders
  $ 1,216,140     $ 741,521      
 
 
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions
  $ 1,216,140     $ 741,521      
 
 
                     
Net decrease in net assets
  $ (106,720,679 )   $ (25,299,961 )    
 
 
                     
                     
 
Net Assets Applicable to
Common Shares
 
At beginning of year
  $ 246,974,322     $ 272,274,283      
 
 
At end of year
  $ 140,253,643     $ 246,974,322      
 
 
                     
                     
 
Accumulated undistributed net
investment income included
in net assets applicable
to common shares
 
At end of year
  $ 2,045,502     $ 1,485,379      
 
 
 
Statement of Cash Flows
 
             
    For the Year Ended
     
Cash Flows From Operating Activities   November 30, 2008      
 
 
Net decrease in net assets from operations
  $ (94,041,245 )    
Distributions to preferred shareholders
    4,438,397      
 
 
Net decrease in net assets from operations excluding distributions to preferred shareholders
  $ (89,602,848 )    
Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
           
Investments purchased
    (204,375,704 )    
             
Investments sold
    275,037,586      
Decrease in short-term investments, net
    1,155,000      
Net accretion/amortization of premium (discount)
    (2,167,693 )    
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs
    549      
Decrease in interest receivable
    684,022      
Increase in receivable for investments sold
    (4,500,328 )    
Decrease in receivable for variation margin on open financial futures contracts
    468,750      
Decrease in prepaid expenses
    11,866      
Increase in payable for investments purchased
    9,583,603      
Decrease in payable for when-issued securities
    (3,588,090 )    
Increase in payable for variation margin on open financial futures contracts
    337,500      
Increase in payable for open swap contracts
    2,400,483      
Decrease in payable for closed swap contracts
    (725,160 )    
Decrease in payable to affiliate for investment adviser fee
    (53,356 )    
Decrease in payable to affiliate for administration fee
    (15,245 )    
Increase in payable to affiliate for Trustees’ fees
    8,561      
Decrease in interest expense and fees payable
    (509,842 )    
Increase in accrued expenses
    43,779      
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation from investments
    95,920,283      
Net realized (gain) loss from investments
    (3,483,522 )    
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 76,630,194      
 
 
             
             
 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
 
Deferred debt issuance costs
  $ (48,090 )    
Cash distributions paid to common shareholders, net of reinvestments
    (12,679,434 )    
Distributions to preferred shareholders
    (4,450,644 )    
Liquidation of auction preferred shares
    (21,150,000 )    
Proceeds from secured borrowings
    42,870,000      
Repayment of secured borrowings
    (86,387,000 )    
Increase in due to custodian
    2,452,379      
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
  $ (79,392,789 )    
 
 
             
Net decrease in cash
  $ (2,762,595 )    
 
 
             
Cash at beginning of year
  $ 2,762,595      
 
 
             
Cash at end of year
  $      
 
 
             
             
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
information:
 
Noncash financing activities not included herein consist of reinvestment of dividends and distributions of:
  $ 1,216,140      
 
 
 
 
See notes to financial statements

10


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
Financial Highlights
 
Selected data for a common share outstanding during the periods stated
 
                                             
    Year Ended November 30,
   
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004      
 
Net asset value — Beginning of year (Common shares)
  $ 14.370     $ 15.880     $ 14.470     $ 13.950     $ 14.090      
 
 
                                             
 
Income (loss) from operations
 
Net investment income(1)
  $ 1.067     $ 1.076     $ 1.100     $ 1.165     $ 1.268      
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    (6.262 )     (1.518 )     1.444       0.611       (0.128 )    
Distributions to preferred shareholders from net investment income(1)
    (0.258 )     (0.278 )     (0.252 )     (0.151 )     (0.090 )    
 
 
Total income (loss) from operations
  $ (5.453 )   $ (0.720 )   $ 2.292     $ 1.625     $ 1.050      
 
 
                                             
 
Less distributions to common shareholders
 
From net investment income
  $ (0.807 )   $ (0.790 )   $ (0.882 )   $ (1.105 )   $ (1.190 )    
 
 
Total distributions to common shareholders
  $ (0.807 )   $ (0.790 )   $ (0.882 )   $ (1.105 )   $ (1.190 )    
 
 
                                             
Net asset value — End of year (Common shares)
  $ 8.110     $ 14.370     $ 15.880     $ 14.470     $ 13.950      
 
 
                                             
Market value — End of year (Common shares)
  $ 8.450     $ 13.300     $ 16.010     $ 14.960     $ 16.150      
 
 
                                             
Total Investment Return on Net Asset Value(2)
    (39.72 )%     (4.62 )%     16.33 %     11.56 %     7.28 %    
 
 
                                             
Total Investment Return on Market Value(2)
    (32.13 )%     (12.44 )%     13.43 %     (0.38 )%     12.54 %    
 
 
 
 
See notes to financial statements

11


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
 
Selected data for a common share outstanding during the periods stated
 
                                             
    Year Ended November 30,
   
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004      
 
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data
 
Net assets applicable to common shares, end of year (000’s omitted)
  $ 140,254     $ 246,974     $ 272,274     $ 246,915     $ 236,303      
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets
applicable to common shares):(3)
Expenses excluding interest and fees
    1.84 %     1.71 %(4)     1.76 %     1.79 %     1.79 %    
Interest and fee expense(5)
    0.73 %     1.35 %     1.46 %     0.95 %     0.80 %    
Total expenses before custodian fee reduction
    2.57 %     3.06 %(4)     3.22 %     2.74 %     2.59 %    
Expenses after custodian fee reduction excluding interest and fees
    1.82 %     1.70 %(4)     1.75 %     1.78 %     1.78 %    
Net investment income
    8.45 %     7.02 %     7.27 %     8.08 %     9.14 %    
Portfolio Turnover
    53 %     37 %     41 %     28 %     21 %    
 
 
The ratios reported above are based on net assets applicable solely to common shares. The ratios based on net assets, including amounts related to preferred shares, are as follows:
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets
applicable to common shares and preferred shares):(3)
Expenses excluding interest and fees
    1.17 %     1.14 %(4)     1.17 %     1.17 %     1.15 %    
Interest and fee expense(5)
    0.47 %     0.90 %     0.97 %     0.62 %     0.51 %    
Total expenses before custodian fee reduction
    1.64 %     2.04 %(4)     2.14 %     1.79 %     1.66 %    
Expenses after custodian fee reduction excluding interest and fees
    1.16 %     1.14 %(4)     1.17 %     1.16 %     1.14 %    
Net investment income
    5.40 %     4.69 %     4.83 %     5.27 %     5.86 %    
 
 
Senior Securities:
                                           
Total preferred shares outstanding
    4,394       5,240       5,240       5,240       5,240      
Asset coverage per preferred share(6)
  $ 56,919     $ 72,138     $ 76,963     $ 72,128     $ 70,112      
Involuntary liquidation preference per preferred share(7)
  $ 25,000     $ 25,000     $ 25,000     $ 25,000     $ 25,000      
Approximate market value per preferred share(7)
  $ 25,000     $ 25,000     $ 25,000     $ 25,000     $ 25,000      
 
 
 
(1) Computed using average common shares outstanding.
 
(2) Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value or market value with all distributions reinvested.
 
(3) Ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to preferred shareholders.
 
(4) The investment adviser was allocated a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses (equal to less than 0.005% of average daily net assets for the year ended November 30, 2007). Absent this allocation, total return would be lower.
 
(5) Interest and fee expense relates to the liability for floating rate notes issued in conjunction with inverse floater securities transactions (see Note 1H).
 
(6) Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (not including the preferred shares) from the Fund’s total assets, and dividing the result by the number of preferred shares outstanding.
 
(7) Plus accumulated and unpaid dividends.
 
 
See notes to financial statements

12


Table of Contents

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
1   Significant Accounting Policies
 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust (the Fund) is a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund seeks to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax.
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Fund. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
A  Investment Valuation — Municipal bonds and taxable obligations, if any, are generally valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing vendor, as derived from such vendor’s pricing models. Inputs to the models may include, but are not limited to, reported trades, executable bid and asked prices, broker/dealer quotations, benchmark curves or information pertaining to the issuer. The pricing vendor may use a matrix approach, which considers information regarding securities with similar characteristics to determine the valuation for a security. Financial futures contracts and options on financial futures contracts listed on commodity exchanges are valued based on the closing price on the primary exchange on which such contracts trade. Interest rate swaps are normally valued using valuations provided by a pricing vendor. Such vendor valuations are based on the present value of fixed and projected floating rate cash flows over the term of the swap contract. Future cash flows are discounted to their present value using swap curves provided by electronic data services or by broker/dealers. Short-term obligations, maturing in sixty days or less, are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Investments for which valuations or market quotations are not readily available, and investments for which the price of a security is not believed to represent its fair market value, are valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees.
 
B  Investment Transactions and Related Income — Investment transactions for financial statement purposes are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount.
 
C  Federal Taxes — The Fund’s policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its taxable, if any, and tax-exempt net investment income, and all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary. The Fund intends to satisfy conditions which will enable it to designate distributions from the interest income generated by its investments in municipal obligations, which are exempt from regular federal income tax when received by the Fund, as exempt-interest dividends.
 
At November 30, 2008, the Fund, for federal income tax purposes, had a capital loss carryforward of $21,195,899 which will reduce its taxable income arising from future net realized gains on investment transactions, if any, to the extent permitted by Internal Revenue Code, and thus will reduce the amount of distributions to shareholders which would otherwise be necessary to relieve the Fund of any liability for federal income or excise tax. Such capital loss carryforward will expire on November 30, 2009 ($5,266,337), November 30, 2011 ($2,541,236), November 30, 2012 ($2,698,493) and November 30, 2016 ($10,689,833).
 
As of November 30, 2008, the Fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. Each of the Fund’s federal tax returns filed in the 3-year period ended November 30, 2008 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.
 
D  Expense Reduction — State Street Bank and Trust Company (SSBT) serves as custodian of the Fund. Pursuant to the custodian agreement, SSBT receives a fee reduced by credits, which are determined based on the average daily cash balance the Fund maintains with SSBT. All credit balances, if any, used to reduce the Fund’s custodian fees are reported as a reduction of expenses in the Statement of Operations.
 
E  Legal Fees — Legal fees and other related expenses incurred as part of negotiations of the terms and requirement of capital infusions, or that are expected to result in the restructuring of, or a plan of reorganization for, an investment are recorded as realized losses. Ongoing expenditures to protect or enhance an investment are treated as operating expenses.
 
F  Use of Estimates —
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
G  Indemnifications — Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising

13


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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
out of the performance of their duties to the Fund, and shareholders are indemnified against personal liability for the obligations of the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.
 
H  Floating Rate Notes Issued in Conjunction with Securities Held — The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities, also referred to as tender option bonds (TOBs), whereby the Fund may sell a fixed rate bond to a broker for cash. At the same time, the Fund buys a residual interest in the assets and cash flows of a Special-Purpose Vehicle (the SPV), (which is generally organized as a trust), set up by the broker, often referred to as an inverse floating rate obligation (Inverse Floater). The broker deposits a fixed rate bond into the SPV with the same CUSIP number as the fixed rate bond sold to the broker by the Fund, and which may have been, but is not required to be, the fixed rate bond purchased from the Fund (the Fixed Rate Bond). The SPV also issues floating rate notes (Floating Rate Notes) which are sold to third-parties. The Fund may enter into shortfall and forbearance agreements with the broker by which the Fund agrees to reimburse the broker, in certain circumstances, for the difference between the liquidation value of the Fixed Rate Bond held by the SPV and the liquidation value of the Floating Rate Notes, as well as any shortfalls in interest cash flows. The Inverse Floater held by the Fund gives the Fund the right (1) to cause the holders of the Floating Rate Notes to tender their notes at par, and (2) to have the broker transfer the Fixed Rate Bond held by the SPV to the Fund, thereby collapsing the SPV. Pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities” (FAS 140), the Fund accounts for the transaction described above as a secured borrowing by including the Fixed Rate Bond in its Portfolio of Investments and the Floating Rate Notes as a liability under the caption “Payable for floating rate notes issued” in its Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Floating Rate Notes have interest rates that generally reset weekly and their holders have the option to tender their notes to the broker for redemption at par at each reset date. Interest expense related to the Fund’s liability with respect to Floating Rate Notes is recorded as incurred. Structuring fees paid to the liquidity provider upon the creation of an SPV have been recorded as debt issuance costs and are being amortized as interest expense to the expected maturity date of the related trust. At November 30, 2008, the amount of the Fund’s Floating Rate Notes outstanding and the related collateral were $34,690,000 and $45,133,780, respectively. The range of interest rates on the Floating Rate Notes outstanding at November 30, 2008 was 1.08% to 4.00%.
 
The Fund’s exposure under shortfall and forebearance agreements that were entered into as of November 30, 2008 was approximately $655,000.
 
The Fund’s investment policies and restrictions expressly permit investments in Inverse Floaters. Inverse floating rate securities typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality and maturity. These securities tend to underperform the market for fixed rate bonds in a rising long-term interest rate environment, but tend to outperform the market for fixed rate bonds when long-term interest rates decline. The value and income of inverse floating rate securities are generally more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. The Fund’s investment policies do not allow the Fund to borrow money for purposes of making investments. Management believes that the Fund’s restrictions on borrowing money and issuing senior securities (other than as specifically permitted) do not apply to Floating Rate Notes issued by the SPV and included as a liability in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As secured indebtedness issued by an SPV, Floating Rate Notes are distinct from the borrowings and senior securities to which the Fund’s restrictions apply. Inverse Floaters held by the Fund are securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
I  Financial Futures Contracts — The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts. The Fund’s investment in financial futures contracts is designed for hedging against changes in interest rates or as a substitute for the purchase of securities. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the broker, either in cash or securities, an amount equal to a certain percentage of the purchase price (initial margin). Subsequent payments, known as variation margin, are made or received by the Fund each business day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security, and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses by the Fund. Gains (losses) are realized upon the expiration or closing of the financial futures contracts. Should market conditions change unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. In entering such contracts, the Fund bears the risk if the counterparties do not perform under the contracts’ terms.
 
J  Interest Rate Swaps — The Fund may enter into interest rate swap agreements to enhance return, to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates, or as substitution for the purchase or sale of securities. Pursuant to these agreements, the Fund makes periodic payments at a fixed interest rate and, in exchange, receives payments based on the interest rate of a benchmark industry index. During the term of the outstanding swap agreement, changes in the underlying value of the swap are recorded as unrealized gains or

14


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
losses. The value of the swap is determined by changes in the relationship between two rates of interest. The Fund is exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the swap counterparty. Risk may also arise from movements in interest rates.
 
K  When-Issued Securities and Delayed Delivery Transactions — The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis. Payment and delivery may take place after the customary settlement period for that security. At the time the transaction is negotiated, the price of the security that will be delivered is fixed. The Fund maintains security positions for these commitments such that sufficient liquid assets will be available to make payments upon settlement. Securities purchased on a delayed delivery or when-issued basis are marked-to-market daily and begin earning interest on settlement date. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
 
L  Statement of Cash Flows — The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows of the Fund is the amount included in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and represents the cash on hand at its custodian and does not include any short-term investments.
 
2   Auction Preferred Shares
 
The Fund issued Auction Preferred Shares (APS) on March 1, 1999 in a public offering. The underwriting discount and other offering costs incurred in connection with the offering were recorded as a reduction of the paid-in capital of the common shares. Dividends on the APS, which accrue daily, are cumulative at rates which are reset every seven days by an auction, unless a special dividend period has been set. If the APS auctions do not successfully clear, the dividend payment rate over the next period for the APS holders is set at a specified maximum applicable rate until such time as the APS auctions are successful. The maximum applicable rate on the APS is 110% (150% for taxable distributions) of the greater of the 1) “AA” Financial Composite Commercial Paper Rate or 2) Taxable Equivalent of the Short-Term Municipal Obligation Rate on the date of the auction. Series of APS are identical in all respects except for the reset dates of the dividend rates.
 
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Fund made a partial redemption of its APS at a liquidation price of $25,000 per share. The replacement financing was provided through the creation of TOB trusts, whereby the Fund transferred highly rated bonds held in its portfolio to an SPV (see Note 1H) and used the proceeds from the sale of the Floating Rate Notes to replace the APS. Such Floating Rate Notes have a liquidity backstop financing facility provided by a major financial institution. The number of APS redeemed and redemption amount (excluding the final dividend payment) during the year ended November 30, 2008 and the number of APS issued and outstanding as of November 30, 2008 were as follows:
 
                             
    APS Redeemed
    Redemption
    APS Issued
     
    During the Period     Amount     and Outstanding      
 
Series A
    423     $ 10,575,000       2,197      
Series B
    423       10,575,000       2,197      
 
The APS are redeemable at the option of the Fund at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, on any dividend payment date. The APS are also subject to mandatory redemption at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if the Fund is in default for an extended period on its asset maintenance requirements with respect to the APS. If the dividends on the APS remain unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends, the holders of the APS as a class have the right to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In general, the holders of the APS and the common shares have equal voting rights of one vote per share, except that the holders of the APS, as a separate class, have the right to elect at least two members of the Board of Trustees. The APS have a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends. The Fund is required to maintain certain asset coverage with respect to the APS as defined in the Fund’s By-Laws and the 1940 Act. The Fund pays an annual fee equivalent to 0.25% of the liquidation value of the APS to broker-dealers as a service fee.
 
3   Distributions to Shareholders
 
The Fund intends to make monthly distributions of net investment income to common shareholders, after payment of any dividends on any outstanding APS. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains, (reduced by available capital loss carryforwards from prior years, if any). Distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to preferred shareholders are recorded daily and are payable at the end of each dividend period. The dividend rates for APS at November 30, 2008, and the amount of dividends paid (including capital gains, if any) to APS shareholders, average APS dividend rates, and dividend rate ranges for the year then ended were as follows:
 
                                     
    APS Dividend
    Dividends
                 
    Rates at
    Paid to APS
    Average APS
    Dividend
     
    November 30, 2008     Shareholders     Dividend Rates     Rate Ranges (%)      
 
Series A
    1.56 %   $ 2,225,819       3.63 %     1.56 – 12.57      
Series B
    1.60 %     2,212,578       3.61 %     1.57 – 11.73      

15


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
Beginning February 14, 2008 and consistent with the patterns in the broader market for auction-rate securities, the Fund’s APS auctions were unsuccessful in clearing due to an imbalance of sell orders over bids to buy the APS. As a result, the dividend rates of the APS were reset to the maximum applicable rates. The table above reflects such maximum dividend rates for each series as of November 30, 2008.
 
The Fund distinguishes between distributions on a tax basis and a financial reporting basis. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits be reported in the financial statements as a return of capital. Permanent differences between book and tax accounting relating to distributions are reclassified to paid-in capital.
 
The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended November 30, 2008 and November 30, 2007 was as follows:
 
                             
          Year Ended November 30,      
     
          2008     2007      
 
Distributions declared from:
                           
Tax-exempt income
                $ 18,333,165     $ 18,269,292      
Ordinary income
          $ 806     $ 73,700      
 
During the year ended November 30, 2008, accumulated net realized loss was decreased by $11,741,369, accumulated undistributed net investment income was increased by $513,304 and paid-in capital was decreased by $12,254,673 due to differences between book and tax accounting, primarily for accretion of market discount and expired capital loss carryforwards. These reclassifications had no effect on the net assets or net asset value per share of the Fund.
 
As of November 30, 2008, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on a tax basis were as follows:
 
             
Undistributed income
  $ 2,064,489      
Capital loss carryforward
  $ (21,195,899 )    
Net unrealized depreciation
  $ (84,203,168 )    
Other temporary differences
  $ (18,987 )    
 
The differences between components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax basis and the amounts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are primarily due to wash sales, accretion of market discount, futures contracts, the timing of recognizing distributions to shareholders and inverse floaters.
 
4   Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
 
The investment adviser fee is earned by Eaton Vance Management (EVM) as compensation for investment advisory services rendered to the Fund. The fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund’s average weekly gross assets and is payable monthly. Average weekly gross assets include the principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed, including debt securities issued by the Fund, and the amount of any outstanding APS issued by the Fund. Pursuant to a fee reduction agreement with EVM, average weekly gross assets are calculated by adding to net assets the liquidation value of the Fund’s APS then outstanding and the amount payable by the Fund to floating rate note holders, such adjustment being limited to the value of the APS outstanding prior to any APS redemptions by the Fund. The administration fee is earned by EVM for administering the business affairs of the Fund and is computed at an annual rate of 0.20% of the Fund’s average weekly gross assets. For the year ended November 30, 2008, the investment adviser fee and administration fee were $2,446,303 and $698,944, respectively.
 
Except for Trustees of the Fund who are not members of EVM’s organization, officers and Trustees receive remuneration for their services to the Fund out of the investment adviser fee. Trustees of the Fund who are not affiliated with the investment adviser may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of the Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan. For the year ended November 30, 2008, no significant amounts have been deferred. Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund are officers of EVM.
 
5   Purchases and Sales of Investments
 
Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $204,375,704 and $275,037,586, respectively, for the year ended November 30, 2008.
 
6   Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
 
Common shares issued pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan for the years ended November 30, 2008 and November 30, 2007 were 101,741 and 47,382, respectively.

16


Table of Contents

 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
7   Federal Income Tax Basis of Investments
 
The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments of the Fund at November 30, 2008, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
 
             
Aggregate cost
  $ 339,587,514      
 
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
  $ 758,095      
Gross unrealized depreciation
    (80,841,065 )    
 
 
Net unrealized depreciation
  $ (80,082,970 )    
 
 
 
8   Overdraft Advances
 
Pursuant to the custodian agreement, SSBT may, in its discretion, advance funds to the Fund to make properly authorized payments. When such payments result in an overdraft, the Fund is obligated to repay SSBT at the current rate of interest charged by SSBT for secured loans (currently, a rate above the Federal Funds rate). This obligation is payable on demand to SSBT. SSBT has a lien on the Fund’s assets to the extent of any overdraft. At November 30, 2008, the Fund had payments due to SSBT pursuant to the foregoing arrangement of $2,452,379.
 
9   Financial Instruments
 
The Fund may trade in financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of its investing activities. These financial instruments may include financial futures contracts and interest rate swaps and may involve, to a varying degree, elements of risk in excess of the amounts recognized for financial statement purposes. The notional or contractual amounts of these instruments represent the investment the Fund has in particular classes of financial instruments and does not necessarily represent the amounts potentially subject to risk. The measurement of the risks associated with these instruments is meaningful only when all related and offsetting transactions are considered.
 
A summary of obligations under these financial instruments at November 30, 2008 is as follows:
 
                                     
Futures Contracts
 
                        Net
     
Expiration
          Aggregate
          Unrealized
     
Date   Contracts   Position   Cost     Value     Depreciation      
 
3/09
  800 U.S. Treasury Bond   Short   $ (99,678,417 )   $ (101,987,500 )   $ (2,309,083 )    
 
 
 
                             
Interest Rate Swaps
 
        Annual
  Floating
  Effective Date/
         
    Notional
  Fixed Rate
  Rate
  Termination
  Net Unrealized
     
Counterparty   Amount   Paid By Fund   Paid To Fund   Date   Depreciation      
 
JP Morgan
Chase Co. 
  $5,475,000   4.743%   3-month
USD-LIBOR
  September 14, 2009/
September 14, 2039
  $ (1,753,665 )    
 
 
Morgan Stanley
Capital
Services, Inc. 
  7,500,000   4.691%   3-month
USD-LIBOR
  June 11, 2009/
June 11, 2039
    (2,366,533 )    
 
 
                    $ (4,120,198 )    
 
 
 
The effective date represents the date on which the Fund and the counterparty to the interest rate swap contract begin interest payment accruals.
 
At November 30, 2008, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover commitments under these contracts.
 
10   Fair Value Measurements
 
The Fund adopted FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (FAS 157), “Fair Value Measurements”, effective December 1, 2007. FAS 157 established a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
 
  •  Level 1 — 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 a 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.
 
At November 30, 2008, the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s investments, which are carried at value, were as follows:
 
                         
        Investments in
    Other Financial
     
    Valuation Inputs   Securities     Instruments*      
 
Level 1
  Quoted Prices   $     $ (2,309,083 )    
Level 2
  Other Significant Observable Inputs     294,194,544       (4,120,198 )    
Level 3
  Significant Unobservable Inputs                
 
 
Total
      $ 294,194,544     $ (6,429,281 )    
 
 
* Other financial instruments include futures and interest rate swap contracts not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments,

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT’D
 
which are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.
 
The Fund held no investments or other financial instruments as of November 30, 2007 whose fair value was determined using Level 3 inputs.
 
11   Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncement
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (FAS 161), “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. FAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities, including qualitative disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk related contingent features in derivative instruments. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of FAS 161 will have on the Fund’s financial statement disclosures.
 
12   Proposed Plan of Reorganization
 
In November 2008, the Trustees of the Fund approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Agreement) whereby the Fund would acquire substantially all the assets and assume substantially all the liabilities of Eaton Vance National Municipal Income Trust (National Trust) in exchange for an equal aggregate value of common shares and APS of the Fund. The proposed reorganization is subject to approval by the shareholders of the Fund and National Trust.
 
13   Subsequent Event
 
The Fund redeemed 197 Series A and 197 Series B APS on December 17, 2008 and December 19, 2008, respectively, at a liquidation price of $25,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
To the Trustees and Shareholders of
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of November 30, 2008, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. 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. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its 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, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2008, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. 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 Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust as of November 30, 2008, 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 five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
January 20, 2009

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust  as of November 30, 2008
 
FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
 
The Form 1099-DIV you receive in January 2009 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2008. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund. As required by the Internal Revenue Code regulations, shareholders must be notified within 60 days of the Fund’s fiscal year end regarding exempt-interest dividends.
 
Exempt-Interest Dividends — The Fund designates 100.0% of dividends from net investment income as an exempt-interest dividend.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust  as of November 30, 2008
 
NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS
 
 
On February 11, 2008, the Fund revised its minimum ratings policy to clarify that when an obligation is rated in different rating categories by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch the highest rating applies.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust 
 
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
 
 
The Fund offers a dividend reinvestment plan (the Plan) pursuant to which shareholders automatically have dividends and capital gains distributions reinvested in common shares (the Shares) of the Fund unless they elect otherwise through their investment dealer. On the distribution payment date, if the net asset value per Share is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, then new Shares will be issued. The number of Shares shall be determined by the greater of the net asset value per Share or 95% of the market price. Otherwise, Shares generally will be purchased on the open market by the Plan Agent. Distributions subject to income tax (if any) are taxable whether or not shares are reinvested.
 
If your shares are in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you can ask the firm or nominee to participate in the Plan on your behalf. If the nominee does not offer the Plan, you will need to request that your shares be re-registered in your name with the Fund’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, or you will not be able to participate.
 
The Plan Agent’s service fee for handling distributions will be paid by the Fund. Each participant will be charged their pro rata share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases.
 
Plan participants may withdraw from the Plan at any time by writing to the Plan Agent at the address noted on the following page. If you withdraw, you will receive shares in your name for all Shares credited to your account under the Plan. If a participant elects by written notice to the Plan Agent to have the Plan Agent sell part or all of his or her Shares and remit the proceeds, the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct a $5.00 fee plus brokerage commissions from the proceeds.
 
If you wish to participate in the Plan and your shares are held in your own name, you may complete the form on the following page and deliver it to the Plan Agent.
 
Any inquiries regarding the Plan can be directed to the Plan Agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, at 1-866-439-6787.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust  
 
APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
 
 
This form is for shareholders who hold their common shares in their own names. If your common shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, you should contact your nominee to see if it will participate in the Plan on your behalf. If you wish to participate in the Plan, but your brokerage firm, bank, or nominee is unable to participate on your behalf, you should request that your common shares be re-registered in your own name which will enable your participation in the Plan.
 
The following authorization and appointment is given with the understanding that I may terminate it at any time by terminating my participation in the Plan as provided in the terms and conditions of the Plan.
 
Please print exact name on account:
Shareholder signature                                   Date
Shareholder signature                                   Date
 
Please sign exactly as your common shares are registered. All persons whose names appear on the share certificate must sign.
 
YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN THIS FORM IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS IN CASH. THIS IS NOT A PROXY.
 
This authorization form, when signed, should be mailed to the following address:
 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
P.O. Box 922
Wall Street Station
New York, NY 10269-0560
 
Number of Employees
The Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company and has no employees.
 
Number of Shareholders
As of November 30, 2008, our records indicate that there are 196 registered shareholders and approximately 8,349 shareholders owning the Fund shares in street name, such as through brokers, banks, and financial intermediaries.
 
If you are a street name shareholder and wish to receive our reports directly, which contain important information about the Fund, please write or call:
 
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
1-800-225-6265
New York Stock Exchange symbol
 
The New York Stock Exchange symbol is EVN.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust 
 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL APPROVAL OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
Overview of the Contract Review Process
 
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), provides, in substance, that each investment advisory agreement between a fund and its investment adviser will continue in effect from year to year only if its continuance is approved at least annually by the fund’s board of trustees, including by a vote of a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the fund (“Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval. At a meeting of the Boards of Trustees (each a “Board”) of the Eaton Vance group of mutual funds (the “Eaton Vance Funds”) held on April 21, 2008, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve continuation of existing advisory and sub-advisory agreements for the Eaton Vance Funds for an additional one-year period. In voting its approval, the Board relied upon the affirmative recommendation of the Contract Review Committee of the Board (formerly the Special Committee), which is a committee comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees. Prior to making its recommendation, the Contract Review Committee reviewed information furnished for a series of meetings of the Contract Review Committee held in February, March and April 2008. Such information included, among other things, the following:
 
Information about Fees, Performance and Expenses
 
  •  An independent report comparing the advisory and related fees paid by each fund with fees paid by comparable funds;
  •  An independent report comparing each fund’s total expense ratio and its components to comparable funds;
  •  An independent report comparing the investment performance of each fund to the investment performance of comparable funds over various time periods;
  •  Data regarding investment performance in comparison to relevant peer groups of funds and appropriate indices;
  •  Comparative information concerning fees charged by each adviser for managing other mutual funds and institutional accounts using investment strategies and techniques similar to those used in managing the fund;
  •  Profitability analyses for each adviser with respect to each fund;
 
Information about Portfolio Management
 
  •  Descriptions of the investment management services provided to each fund, including the investment strategies and processes employed, and any changes in portfolio management processes and personnel;
  •  Information concerning the allocation of brokerage and the benefits received by each adviser as a result of brokerage allocation, including information concerning the acquisition of research through “soft dollar” benefits received in connection with the funds’ brokerage, and the implementation of a soft dollar reimbursement program established with respect to the funds;
  •  Data relating to portfolio turnover rates of each fund;
  •  The procedures and processes used to determine the fair value of fund assets and actions taken to monitor and test the effectiveness of such procedures and processes;
 
Information about each Adviser
 
  •  Reports detailing the financial results and condition of each adviser;
  •  Descriptions of the qualifications, education and experience of the individual investment professionals whose responsibilities include portfolio management and investment research for the funds, and information relating to their compensation and responsibilities with respect to managing other mutual funds and investment accounts;
  •  Copies of the Codes of Ethics of each adviser and its affiliates, together with information relating to compliance with and the administration of such codes;
  •  Copies of or descriptions of each adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures;
  •  Information concerning the resources devoted to compliance efforts undertaken by each adviser and its affiliates on behalf of the fund (including descriptions of various compliance programs) and their record of compliance with investment policies and restrictions, including policies with respect to market-timing, late trading and selective portfolio disclosure, and with policies on personal securities transactions;
  •  Descriptions of the business continuity and disaster recovery plans of each adviser and its affiliates;
 
Other Relevant Information
 
  •  Information concerning the nature, cost and character of the administrative and other non-investment management services provided by Eaton Vance Management and its affiliates;
  •  Information concerning management of the relationship with the custodian, subcustodians and fund accountants by each adviser or the funds’ administrator; and
  •  The terms of each advisory agreement.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust 
 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL APPROVAL OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT CONT’D
 
 
In addition to the information identified above, the Contract Review Committee considered information provided from time to time by each adviser throughout the year at meetings of the Board and its committees. Over the course of the twelve-month period ended April 30, 2008, the Board met eleven times and the Contract Review Committee, the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee, each of which is a Committee comprised solely of Independent Trustees, met twelve, seven and five times, respectively. At such meetings, the Trustees received, among other things, presentations by the portfolio managers and other investment professionals of each adviser relating to the investment performance of each fund and the investment strategies used in pursuing the fund’s investment objective. The Portfolio Management Committee and the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee are newly established and did not meet during the twelve-month period ended April 30, 2008.
 
For funds that invest through one or more underlying portfolios, the Board considered similar information about the portfolio(s) when considering the approval of advisory agreements. In addition, in cases where the fund’s investment adviser has engaged a sub-adviser, the Board considered similar information about the sub-adviser when considering the approval of any sub-advisory agreement.
 
The Contract Review Committee was assisted throughout the contract review process by Goodwin Procter LLP, legal counsel for the Independent Trustees. The members of the Contract Review Committee relied upon the advice of such counsel and their own business judgment in determining the material factors to be considered in evaluating each advisory and sub-advisory agreement and the weight to be given to each such factor. The conclusions reached with respect to each advisory and sub-advisory agreement were based on a comprehensive evaluation of all the information provided and not any single factor. Moreover, each member of the Contract Review Committee may have placed varying emphasis on particular factors in reaching conclusions with respect to each advisory and sub-advisory agreement.
 
Results of the Process
 
Based on its consideration of the foregoing, and such other information as it deemed relevant, including the factors and conclusions described below, the Contract Review Committee concluded that the continuance of the investment advisory agreement between the Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust (the “Fund”) and Eaton Vance Management (the “Adviser”), including its fee structure, is in the interests of shareholders and, therefore, the Contract Review Committee recommended to the Board approval of the agreement. The Board accepted the recommendation of the Contract Review Committee as well as the factors considered and conclusions reached by the Contract Review Committee with respect to the agreement. Accordingly, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve continuation of the investment advisory agreement for the Fund.
 
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
 
In considering whether to approve the investment advisory agreement of the Fund, the Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by the Adviser.
 
The Board considered the Adviser’s management capabilities and investment process with respect to the types of investments held by the Fund, including the education, experience and number of its investment professionals and other personnel who provide portfolio management, investment research, and similar services to the Fund. In particular, the Board evaluated, where relevant, the abilities and experience of such investment personnel in analyzing factors such as credit risk and special considerations relevant to investing in municipal bonds. The Board considered the Adviser’s large municipal bond team, which includes portfolio managers and credit specialists who provide services to the Fund. The Board also took into account the resources dedicated to portfolio management and other services, including the compensation paid to recruit and retain investment personnel, and the time and attention devoted to the Fund by senior management.
 
The Board also reviewed the compliance programs of the Adviser and relevant affiliates thereof. Among other matters, the Board considered compliance and reporting matters relating to personal trading by investment personnel, selective disclosure of portfolio holdings, late trading, frequent trading, portfolio valuation, business continuity and the allocation of investment opportunities. The Board also evaluated the responses of the Adviser and its affiliates to requests from regulatory authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The Board considered shareholder and other administrative services provided or managed by Eaton Vance Management and its affiliates, including transfer agency and accounting services. The Board evaluated the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is a part of a large family of funds.
 
After consideration of the foregoing factors, among others, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser, taken as a whole, are appropriate and consistent with the terms of the investment advisory agreement.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust 
 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL APPROVAL OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT CONT’D
 
Fund Performance
 
The Board compared the Fund’s investment performance to a relevant universe of similarly managed funds identified by an independent data provider and appropriate benchmark indices. The Board reviewed comparative performance data for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended September 30, 2007 for the Fund. The Board concluded that the performance of the Fund was satisfactory.
 
Management Fees and Expenses
 
The Board reviewed contractual investment advisory fee rates, including any administrative fee rates, payable by the Fund (referred to collectively as “management fees”). As part of its review, the Board considered the management fees and the Fund’s total expense ratio for the year ended September 30, 2007, as compared to a group of similarly managed funds selected by an independent data provider. The Board considered the fact that the Adviser had waived fees and/or paid expenses for the Fund. The Board considered the financial resources committed by the Adviser in structuring the Fund at the time of its initial public offering. After reviewing the foregoing information, and in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board concluded that the management fees charged for advisory and related services and the Fund’s total expense ratio are reasonable.
 
Profitability
 
The Board reviewed the level of profits realized by the Adviser and relevant affiliates thereof in providing investment advisory and administrative services to the Fund and to all Eaton Vance Funds as a group. The Board considered the level of profits realized with and without regard to revenue sharing or other payments by the Adviser and its affiliates to third parties in respect of distribution services. The Board also considered other direct or indirect benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates in connection with its relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that, in light of the foregoing factors and the nature, extent and quality of the services rendered, the profits realized by the Adviser and its affiliates are reasonable.
 
Economies of Scale
 
In reviewing management fees and profitability, the Board also considered the extent to which the Adviser and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Fund, on the other hand, can expect to realize benefits from economies of scale as the assets of the Fund increase. The Board acknowledged the difficulty in accurately measuring the benefits resulting from the economies of scale with respect to the management of any specific fund or group of funds.
 
The Board also considered the fact that the Fund is not continuously offered and concluded that, in light of the level of the adviser’s profits with respect to the Fund, the implementation of breakpoints in the advisory fee schedule is not appropriate at this time. Based upon the foregoing, the Board concluded that the benefits from economies of scale are currently being shared equitably by the Adviser and its affiliates and the Fund.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust 
 
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
 
 
Fund Management. The Trustees of Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust (the Trust) are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Trust’s affairs. The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. The “noninterested Trustees” consist of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. As used below, “EVC” refers to Eaton Vance Corp., “EV” refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., “EVM” refers to Eaton Vance Management, “BMR” refers to Boston Management and Research and “EVD” refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of EVM and BMR. EVD is the Trust’s principal underwriter and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVC. Each officer affiliated with Eaton Vance may hold a position with other Eaton Vance affiliates that is comparable to his or her position with EVM listed below.
 
                         
        Term of
      Number of Portfolios
     
    Position(s)
  Office and
      in Fund Complex
     
Name and
  with the
  Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen By
     
Date of Birth   Trust   Service   During Past Five Years   Trustee(1)     Other Directorships Held
 
 
 
Interested Trustee
                         
Thomas E. Faust Jr.
5/31/58
  Class II Trustee   Until 2010. 3 years. Trustee since 2007.   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVC, Director and President of EV, Chief Executive Officer and President of EVM and BMR, and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or Officer of 173 registered investment companies and 4 private investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Mr. Faust is an interested person because of his positions with EVM, BMR, EVD, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Trust.     173     Director of EVC
 
Noninterested Trustees
                         
Benjamin C. Esty(A)
1/2/63
  Class I Trustee   Until 2009. 3 years. Trustee since 2006.   Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration, Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.     173     None
                         
Allen R. Freedman
4/3/40
  Class II Trustee   Until 2010. 3 years. Trustee since 2007.   Former Chairman (2002-2004) and a Director (1983-2004) of Systems & Computer Technology Corp. (provider of software to higher education). Formerly, a Director of Loring Ward International (fund distributor) (2005-2007). Formerly, Chairman and a Director of Indus International, Inc. (provider of enterprise management software to the power generating industry) (2005-2007).     173     Director of Assurant, Inc. (insurance provider) and Stonemor Partners L.P. (owner and operator of cemeteries)
                         
William H. Park
9/19/47
  Class III Trustee   Until 2011. 3 years. Trustee since 2003.   Vice Chairman, Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. (specialty finance company) (since 2006). Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (2002-2005).     173     None
                         
Ronald A. Pearlman
7/10/40
  Class I Trustee   Until 2009. 3 years. Trustee since 2003.   Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center.     173     None
                         
Helen Frame Peters
3/22/48
  Class III Trustee   Until 2011. 3 years. Trustee since 2008.   Professor of Finance, Carroll School of Management, Boston College. Adjunct Professor of Finance, Peking University, Beijing, China (since 2005).     173     Director of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (a bank for banks) and BJ’s Wholesale Clubs (wholesale club retailer); Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust (exchange traded funds)

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust 
 
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION CONT’D
 
                         
        Term of
      Number of Portfolios
     
    Position(s)
  Office and
      in Fund Complex
     
Name and
  with the
  Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen By
     
Date of Birth   Trust   Service   During Past Five Years   Trustee(1)     Other Directorships Held
 
 
Noninterested Trustees (continued)
                         
Heidi L. Steiger
7/8/53
  Class III Trustee   Until 2011. 3 years. Trustee since 2007.   Managing Partner, Topridge Associates LLC (global wealth management firm) (since 2008); Senior Adviser (since 2008), President, (2005-2008) Lowenhaupt Global Advisors, LLC (global wealth management firm). Formerly, President and Contributing Editor, Worth Magazine (2004-2005). Formerly, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Private Asset Management (and various other positions), Neuberger Berman (investment firm) (1986-2004).     173     Director of Nuclear Electric Insurance Ltd. (nuclear insurance provider) and Aviva USA (insurance provider)
                         
Lynn A. Stout
9/14/57
  Class I Trustee   Until 2009. 3 years. Trustee since 1998.   Paul Hastings Professor of Corporate and Securities Law (since 2006) and Professor of Law (2001-2006), University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.     173     None
                         
Ralph F. Verni(A)
1/26/43
  Chairman of the Board and Class II Trustee   Until 2010. 3 years. Trustee since 2006; Chairman since 2007.   Consultant and private investor.     173     None
 
Principal Officers who are not Trustees
 
             
        Term of
   
    Position(s)
  Office and
   
Name and
  with the
  Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
Date of Birth   Trust   Service   During Past Five Years
 
 
Robert B. MacIntosh
1/22/57
  President   Since 2005   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 90 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
             
William H. Ahern, Jr.
7/28/59
  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 75 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
             
Cynthia J. Clemson
3/2/63
  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 90 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
             
Thomas M. Metzold
8/3/58
  Vice President   Since 1998   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 44 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
             
Barbara E. Campbell
6/19/57
  Treasurer   Since 2005   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 173 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
             
Maureen A. Gemma
5/24/60
  Secretary and Chief Legal Officer   Secretary since 2007 and Chief Legal Officer since 2008   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 173 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
             
Paul M. O’Neil
7/11/53
  Chief Compliance Officer   Since 2004   Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 173 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR.
 
(1) Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure.
 
(A) APS Trustee.
 
In accordance with Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s Annual CEO Certification certifying as to compliance with NYSE’s Corporate Governance Listing Standards was submitted to the Exchange on April 16, 2008. The Fund has also filed its CEO and CFO certifications required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with the SEC as an exhibit to its most recent Form N-CSR.

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Investment Adviser and Administrator of Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
Eaton Vance Management
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
 
 
 
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
 
 
 
Transfer Agent
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane
Plaza Level
New York, NY 10038
 
 
 
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116-5022
 
 
 
 
 
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109


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151-1/09 CE-NASRC


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Item 2. Code of Ethics
The registrant has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of such code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, by calling 1-800-262-1122.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
The registrant’s Board has designated William H. Park, an independent trustee, as its audit committee financial expert. Mr. Park is a certified public accountant who is the Vice Chairman of Commercial Industrial Finance Corp (specialty finance company). Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Asset Management Corporation (“UAM”) (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms).
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2007 and November 30, 2008 by the registrant’s principal accountant for professional services rendered for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by the principal accountant during those periods.
                 
Fiscal Years Ended   11/30/2007     11/30/2008  
 
Audit Fees
  $ 55,980     $ 50,485  
 
               
Audit-Related Fees(1)
  $ 3,785     $ 3,915  
 
               
Tax Fees(2)
  $ 6,883     $ 7,130  
 
               
All Other Fees(3)
  $ 0     $ 226  
     
 
               
Total
  $ 66,648     $ 61,756  
 
             
 
(1)   Audit-related fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of financial statements and are not reported under the category of audit fees and specifically include fees for the performance of certain agreed-upon procedures relating to the registrant’s auction preferred shares.
 
(2)   Tax fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant relating to tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning and specifically include fees for tax return preparation and other related tax compliance/planning matters.
 
(3)   All other fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant other than audit, audit-related, and tax services.
(e)(1) The registrant’s audit committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the pre-approval of services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant (the “Pre-Approval Policies”). The Pre-Approval Policies establish a framework intended to assist the audit committee in the proper discharge of its pre-approval responsibilities. As a general matter, the Pre-Approval Policies (i) specify certain types of audit, audit-related, tax, and other services determined to be pre-approved by the audit

 


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committee; and (ii) delineate specific procedures governing the mechanics of the pre-approval process, including the approval and monitoring of audit and non-audit service fees. Unless a service is specifically pre-approved under the Pre-Approval Policies, it must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee.
The Pre-Approval Policies and the types of audit and non-audit services pre-approved therein must be reviewed and ratified by the registrant’s audit committee at least annually. The registrant’s audit committee maintains full responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the registrant’s principal accountant.
(e)(2) No services described in paragraphs (b)-(d) above were approved by the registrant’s audit committee pursuant to the “de minimis exception” set forth in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the registrant by the registrant’s principal accountant for the registrant’s fiscal years ended November 30, 2007 and November 30, 2008; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit related, tax, and other services) billed to the Eaton Vance organization by the registrant’s principal accountant for the same time periods, respectively.
                 
Fiscal Years Ended   11/30/2007   11/30/2008
 
Registrant
  $ 10,668     $ 11,045  
 
               
Eaton Vance(1)
  $ 286,446     $ 345,473  
(1) Eaton Vance Management, a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., acts as the registrant’s investment adviser and administrator.
(h) The registrant’s audit committee has considered whether the provision by the registrant’s principal accountant of non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’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 and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. William H. Park (Chair), Lynn A. Stout, Heidi L. Steiger and Ralph E. Verni are the members of the registrant’s audit committee.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments

 


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Please see schedule of investments contained in the Report to Stockholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted a proxy voting policy and procedure (the “Fund Policy”), pursuant to which the Trustees have delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Fund’s investment adviser and adopted the investment adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures (the “Policies”) which are described below. The Trustees will review the Fund’s proxy voting records from time to time and will annually consider approving the Policies for the upcoming year. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between the Fund’s shareholders and the investment adviser, the administrator, or any of their affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund, the investment adviser will generally refrain from voting the proxies related to the companies giving rise to such conflict until it consults with the Board’s Special Committee except as contemplated under the Fund Policy. The Board’s Special Committee will instruct the investment adviser on the appropriate course of action.
The Policies are designed to promote accountability of a company’s management to its shareholders and to align the interests of management with those shareholders. An independent proxy voting service (“Agent”), currently Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., has been retained to assist in the voting of proxies through the provision of vote analysis, implementation and recordkeeping and disclosure services. The investment adviser will generally vote proxies through the Agent. The Agent is required to vote all proxies and/or refer then back to the investment adviser pursuant to the Policies. It is generally the policy of the investment adviser to vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Agent. The Agent shall refer to the investment adviser proxies relating to mergers and restructurings, and the disposition of assets, termination, liquidation and mergers contained in mutual fund proxies. The investment adviser will normally vote against anti-takeover measures and other proposals designed to limit the ability of shareholders to act on possible transactions, except in the case of closed-end management investment companies. The investment adviser generally supports management on social and environmental proposals. The investment adviser may abstain from voting from time to time where it determines that the costs associated with voting a proxy outweighs the benefits derived from exercising the right to vote or the economic effect on shareholders interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant.
In addition, the investment adviser will monitor situations that may result in a conflict of interest between the Fund’s shareholders and the investment adviser, the administrator, or any of their affiliates or any affiliate of the Fund by maintaining a list of significant existing and prospective corporate clients. The investment adviser’s personnel responsible for reviewing and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund will report any proxy received or expected to be received from a company included on that list to the personal of the investment adviser identified in the Policies. If such personnel expects to instruct the Agent to vote such proxies in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines of the Policies or the recommendation of the Agent, the personnel will consult with members of senior management of the investment adviser to determine if a material conflict of interests exists. If it is determined that a

 


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material conflict does exist, the investment adviser will seek instruction on how to vote from the Special Committee.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122, and (2) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Portfolio Management
Thomas M. Metzold is responsible for the overall and day-to-day management of the Trust’s investments. Mr. Metzold has been an Eaton Vance portfolio manager since 1991 and is a Vice President of EVM and Boston Management and Research, an Eaton Vance subsidiary. This information is provided as of the date of filing of this report.
The following tables show, as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the number of accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category. The table also shows the number of accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, if any, and the total assets in those accounts.
                                 
                    Number of    
    Number           Accounts   Total Assets of
    of All   Total Assets of   Paying a   Accounts Paying a
    Accounts   All Accounts*   Performance Fee   Performance Fee*
Thomas M. Metzold
                               
Registered Investment Companies
    7     $ 5,911.4       0     $ 0  
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
    0     $ 0       0     $ 0  
Other Accounts
    0     $ 0       0     $ 0  
 
*   In millions of dollars.
The following table shows the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by each portfolio manager as of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
     
    Dollar Range of
    Equity Securities
Portfolio Manager   Owned in the Fund
Thomas M. Metzold
  None
Potential for Conflicts of Interest. It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments on the one hand and investments of other accounts for which a portfolio manager is responsible on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the Fund and other accounts he or she advises. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions between the Fund and the other accounts, a portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the Fund. In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may compensate the investment adviser or sub-adviser based on the performance of the securities held by that account. The existence of such a performance based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for a portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities. Whenever conflicts of interest arise, a portfolio manager will endeavor to exercise his or her discretion in a manner that he or she believes is equitable to all interested persons. EVM has adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including: a code of ethics; and policies which govern the investment adviser’s trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocation, cross trades and best execution.

 


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Compensation Structure for EVM
Compensation of EVM’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting of options to purchase shares of EVC’s nonvoting common stock and/or restricted shares of EVC’s nonvoting common stock. EVM’s investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to EVM’s employees. Compensation of EVM’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect at or shortly after the October 31st fiscal year end of EVC.
Method to Determine Compensation. EVM compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus appropriate peer groups or benchmarks. Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by EVM’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. For funds that are tax-managed or otherwise have an objective of after-tax returns, performance is measured net of taxes. For other funds, performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to risk-adjusted performance. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income), consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance.
The compensation of portfolio managers with other job responsibilities (such as heading an investment group or providing analytical support to other portfolios) will include consideration of the scope of such responsibilities and the managers’ performance in meeting them.
EVM seeks to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. EVM participates in investment-industry compensation surveys and utilizes survey data as a factor in determining salary, bonus and stock-based compensation levels for portfolio managers and other investment professionals. Salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of EVM and its parent company. The overall annual cash bonus pool is based on a substantially fixed percentage of pre-bonus operating income. While the salaries of EVM’s portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors as described herein. For a high performing portfolio manager, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may represent a substantial portion of total compensation.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
No such purchases this period.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
No Material Changes.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls

 


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and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
     
(a)(1)
  Registrant’s Code of Ethics – Not applicable (please see Item 2).
 
(a)(2)(i)
  Treasurer’s Section 302 certification.
 
(a)(2)(ii)
  President’s Section 302 certification.
 
(b)
  Combined Section 906 certification.

 


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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.
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
         
     
  By:   /s/ Robert B. MacIntosh    
    Robert B. MacIntosh   
    President   
 
Date:    January 15, 2009
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/ Barbara E. Campbell    
    Barbara E. Campbell   
    Treasurer   
 
Date:    January 15, 2009
         
     
  By:   /s/ Robert B. MacIntosh    
    Robert B. MacIntosh   
    President   
 
Date:    January 15, 2009