NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) May 9, 2001 -– Standard&Poor's today assigned its double-'A'-minus rating to Albuquerque, N.M.'s $17.01 million refuse removal and disposal system revenue bonds series 2001A and B due July 1, 2012. The bonds are scheduled to sell May 14, 2001. The outlook is stable. In addition, Standard&Poor's raised its underlying rating (SPUR) on the city's outstanding refuse removal and disposal revenue bonds series 1998 due July 1, 2001-2013 to double-'A'-minus from single-'A'-plus. The SPUR upgrade is based on Albuquerque's continued sound financial results and manageable capital improvement plan (CIP). Other rating factors include: -- Limited competition to the city's solid waste department for these services, -- A strong rate collection mechanism,
