Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'AA+' rating and stable outlook to Washington County, Md.'s series 2014 general obligation (GO) public improvement bonds and GO refunding bonds and affirmed its 'AA+' rating, with a stable outlook, on the county's existing GO debt based on Standard&Poor's local GO criteria, published Sept. 12, 2013, on RatingsDirect. The county's full-faith-and-credit pledge secures the GO bonds. Officials intend to use series 2014 bond proceeds to fund infrastructure projects and refund series 2007 GO bonds. The rating reflects our opinion of the following factors for the county, including its: Strong economy that participates in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg metropolitan statistical area, coupled with good income and strong wealth; Very strong budgetary flexibility with the
