NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Feb. 17, 2011--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has raised its ratings on Seattle, Wash.'s solid waste revenue bonds to 'AA' from 'AA-', reflecting the continued strong coverage of annual debt service and sound system operations. The outlook is stable. Other credit factors include: The continued strength of financial performance, supported by conservative financial policies; A very deep and diverse economic base that consistently endures business cycles; and Affordable rates indicating capacity for future increases to accommodate rising costs. The above strengths balance concerns regarding the system's current low liquidity, but preliminary financial statements for fiscal 2010 show significant improvement in the system's cash balances. "The stable outlook reflects our expectation that financial targets will continue
