The 'AAA' rating on Monmouth County, N.J.'s series 2008 general obligation (GO) refunding bonds reflects the county's: Strong local economy anchored by the services, retail trade, and health care industries; Substantial and rapidly growing tax base; Income levels that exceed both state and national levels; Consistently strong and conservative financial management, evidenced by regular operating surpluses and high current fund balances; and Moderate-to-low overall debt burden. The county will use the series 2008 refunding bond proceeds to refund various GO bonds issued between 1998 and 2001. Monmouth County (current population, 655,674) is in central New Jersey and neighbors Mercer, Middlesex, Burlington, and Ocean counties. The county is an affluent residential community and increasingly serves as a major commuting hub for
