Standard&Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its 'A+' long-term rating on Bethel, Minn.'s outstanding general obligation (GO) bonds. The affirmation is based on Standard&Poor's local GO criteria released Sept. 12, 2013. The outlook is stable. The bonds are secured by the city's unlimited-tax GO pledge. The rating reflects our view of the following factors for the city: Bethel's local economy is adequate, in our view, with projected per capita effective buying income at 90% of the national average and a per capita market value of about $53,327. Bethel (population: 508) is in Anoka County, about 30 miles north of Minneapolis. Residents primarily commute to nearby jobs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis. metropolitan area. Local employers are primarily small
