Wednesday, January 18, 2012
By the Enid News and Eagle
Oklahoma leaders, headed by Gov. Mary Fallin, plan to go to New York on Thursday to seek to improve our state’s bond ratings.
We certainly hope they are successful.
It appears they will have plenty of ammunition in seeking the boost in ratings.
Right now, Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings have Oklahoma at their second-highest rating, AA+.
Moody’s Investor Services has Oklahoma at its third-highest rating, AA2. The highest rating for all three is AAA.
The officials going along with Fallin, including Treasurer Ken Miller, Office of State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger and State Bond Adviser Jim Joseph, will point out plenty of positives Oklahoma has going for it.
For one, the state has a balanced budget.
Also, they will point out Oklahoma’s impressive growth in state revenues in recent months, low unemployment and the $500 million that will be deposited in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
A higher bond rating will mean better terms and rates for state-held bonds.
We wish them good luck with the mission. It would be a good thing for Oklahoma.