The 'AA+' rating on Denver City and County, Colo.'s GO debt reflects: A strong and diverse economy, Above-average wealth and income levels, Moderately low debt, and Strong financial performance. These factors are offset slightly by state constitutional limitations on revenues. Denver serves as a service, trade, and transportation center for the greater Rocky Mountain region. Although the city now estimates sales taxes to decline in 2001, the Denver metropolitan area economy continues to add jobs and outperform the nation. City market value increased 20.7% in 2001 to $48.8 billion. The metropolitan economy is diversified among services, trade, government (Denver is the state capital), and manufacturing, although services accounted for 31% of the metropolitan total in 1999. Growth has primarily been
