County GovernmentMonday, November 9
Chester County keeps its Triple-A ratings from all three agencies
The West Chester Morning News team
Chester County's credit is still as good as it gets. The county has kept its top ratings from S&P Global, Fitch Ratings and Moody's Ratings, and it's still Pennsylvania's only county with Triple-A ratings. Higher ratings generally let governments borrow at lower interest rates.
Top 2%of counties nationwide, according to county officials
That's where the Triple-A ratings place Chester County.
Sources: MyChesCo, VISTA.Today
- Streak: Triple-A ratings for nearly two decades
- Outlook: stable from all three agencies
- Taxes: one of the lowest county rates in southeastern Pennsylvania
The commissioners said in a joint statement that "Earning Triple-A ratings for nearly two decades is something we don't take for granted." Fitch cited "budgetary flexibility and the expectation that the county will sustain unrestricted general fund reserves at or above 10 percent of expenditures."
Each agency pointed to different strengths
| Agency | What it cited |
|---|---|
| S&P Global | Strong economy, incomes, diverse jobs |
| Fitch Ratings | Budget flexibility, reserves at 10%+ |
| Moody's Ratings | Economic growth, extensive financial policies |
Sources: MyChesCo, VISTA.Today
Sources: MyChesCo, VISTA.Today