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Progress Rewarded: Wayne County credit rating upgraded two notches by Standard & Poors
Wayne County's recovery and rebuilding efforts earned another key vote of support this week as Standard and Poor's Global Ratings (S&P) raised the County's bond rating to BBB+, up from BBB-. The higher rating is the latest in a series of credit upgrades the County has received since Executive Warren C. Evans took office in 2015.
"After three straight budget surpluses, these ratings upgrades demonstrate that outside analysts recognize Wayne County's commitment to responsibly managing taxpayer money," said Wayne County Chief Financial Officer Henry Dachowitz. "But more importantly, our improved credit rating will lower the cost to borrow for necessary facilities upgrades and infrastructure investments that will help us improve service delivery for Wayne County residents and businesses."
S&P cited a number of factors when making their upgrade including Wayne County's "substantial cost-cutting," "improved fiscal and operational management," and "improving its pension funded position." S&P left the door open for further rating upgrades as Wayne County's progress continues.
"The positive outlook reflects our view that we may raise the rating again, possibly by multiple notches, over the next one-to-two years if the county proves successful in maintaining balance in this new environment," said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst John Sauter.
This is Wayne County's second credit rating upgrade from S&P in 2018. In April S&P improved Wayne County to the investment grade BBB-, mirroring a ratings bump made by fellow ratings agency Fitch in May 2017.
