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March 04, 2004 Jacobs Has High Praise for Bond Upgrade
County's Financial Outlook Just Got Brighter Mineola, NY - Nassau County received yet another bond upgrade today from Wall Street's Fitch Ratings, raising it from a "BBB+" to an outstanding "A-" announced Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). "This marks the second time the county has been giving an upgrade by Fitch, signaling that we are back in business and we are continuing to flourish," stated Jacobs. "The upgrade is a direct reflection of the county's dedication to improving and maintaining areas of fiscal management, responsibility and overall accountability," she added. For the very first time in the past 10 years, Nassau County, is also enjoying an achieved structural balance and the lowest cash flow borrowing in over a decade. According to Fitch's report commended the county's, continued improvement in the quality of financial management, the conservative nature of budget forecasts, that growing reserves, careful planning of expenditures, progress towards achieving labor concessions, workforce reduction, assessment reform and revenue enhancements. "It is a credit to County Executive Thomas Suozzi and his financial staff that we have seen yet another positive upgrade," said Jacobs. "Through dedication and teamwork we have righted this ship and are continuing to move it forward. As other municipalities are placed on fiscal watch or are suffering from staggering bond ratings, Nassau remains strong." In addition, the legislature has made changes to the county charter, which includes continuing the preparation of monthly and quarterly reports that reflect multi year financial planning. |