Standard&Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its 'A-' Standard&Poor's underlying rating (SPUR), with a stable outlook, on West Contra Costa Unified School District, Calif.'s GO debt. The SPUR reflects the district's: Fiscal oversight by a state trustee and adequate financial performance and recovery from financial mismanagement in the early 1990s; Participation in the San Francisco Bay area economy, which provides diverse employment opportunities; and Above-average income levels. These positive factors are offset by the district's: Growing debt burden with high carrying charges, coupled with ongoing capital needs and slow amortization of debt; and Expenditure pressures due to union contracts and small facilities that restrict further growth in the average class size at most grade levels and lifetime health
