NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Jan. 4, 2002—Standard&Poor's today assigned its double-'A' rating to Albuquerque, N.M.'s $31.6 million GO bonds series 2002A-2002C dated Feb. 1, 2002, due July 1, 2011. The bonds are scheduled to sell on Jan. 7, 2002. At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed its double-'A' rating on the city's outstanding GO sewer bonds. The outlook is stable. The rating is based on the city's full faith and credit pledge and reflects: -- An expanding and diversifying economic base, -- A manageable debt burden, and -- Historically stable financial operations. Albuquerque, with a population of 448,607, is New Mexico's largest city and economic center. Services and trade (56% of area employment in 2000), government
