The 'AA+' rating on Denver City and County, Colo.'s GO bonds reflects: A large and diverse economy, Above-average wealth and income levels, Moderate debt levels, and Strong financial performance aided by proactive midyear budget-cutting actions to offset recent revenue declines and maintain general fund balances at good levels. These factors are offset by recent economic softness, causing a decline in city sales tax collections, and state constitutional limitations on revenues that, combined with the revenue decline, will slightly "ratchet down" permissible revenues for general purposes in later years, absent a future voter-approved exemption. Denver serves as a service, trade, and transportation center for the greater Rocky Mountain region. Denver's growing metropolitan employment has strongly outperformed national trends until recently, and
