Howard County has maintained its AAA bond rating for the 18th year in a row.  AAA is the highest credit rating earned.

According to the Baltimore Sun,

Citing the county’s budget management practices and diverse tax base, all three top bond ratings agencies — Moody’s Investor Services, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings — awarded Howard a AAA rating.

Credit ratings assess the ability of a government or business to repay its debts. Howard is among 41 counties in the nation, out of more than 3,000, to earn the AAA rating from all three agencies.

The rating will also allow the county to issue debt for capital projects at favorable interest rates, according to a press release.

County Executive Allan Kittleman called the news “an affirmation” of the county’s “sound fiscal management, responsibility and strength.”

To read the full article on Howard County’s AAA bond rating, visit the Baltimore Sun online.