Jefferson County received improved bond ratings this week from credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings.

This could mean less stress on the wallets of county taxpayers and sewer customers for the future according to County Manager Cal Markert.

A 2018 bond for the county’s general fund increased from a score of “AA-” to “AA” and a 2017 school funding bond increased from a score of from “AA” to “AA+” according to a recent press release.

Both of these scores are near the top of S&P’s rating list which spans from the highest rating of AAA to the lowest rating of D, which would mean a group has defaulted on all of its financial obligations, according to the S&P website.

These annual ratings are generated from a number of factors including capital improvement projects, emergency reserve funds, timely bill payments, and overall financial system operations, Markert said.