...S&P Global Ratings assigned its '###' long-term rating to West Hartford, Conn.'s series 2019B general obligation (GO) refunding bonds. At the same time, we affirmed our '###' rating on the town's GO debt. The outlook is stable. The rating reflects West Hartford's overall strong budget monitoring and planning framework, which has yielded consistent and positive budgetary performance over the last three audited fiscal years. As a result, the town's overall stable operating trends supported its maintenance of strong flexibility and liquidity to guard against recent state-level fiscal pressures. We expect West Hartford to maintain a steady pace of economic growth, proactive management environment, and a manageable debt profile over the two-year outlook period. The state fiscal environment, however, is less predictable and could lead to significant cuts in state aid and expose the district's elevated fixed costs related to low-funded pension and other postemployment benefit (OPEB) liabilities,...
