DALLAS (Standard&Poor's) July 29, 2008--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services raised its standard long-term rating and underlying rating (SPUR) on St. Charles Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, La.'s general obligation (GO) bonds to 'A' from 'B-' based on the establishment of a deposit trust agreement (DTA) whereby collections from the unlimited ad valorem property tax securing the bonds will flow directly from the tax collector to a trustee for the exclusive benefit of bondholders. The outlook is stable. Standard&Poor's received a legal opinion that states that the creation of the DTA effectively transfers the property of the dedicated ad valorem property tax collections to the trustee. Consequently, the funds collected by the sheriff's department and deposited
