Standard&Poor's Ratings Services raised its underlying rating (SPUR) on Westfield, Mass.' general obligation (GO) debt by two notches to 'A+' from 'A-'. The outlook is stable. We based the upgrade on what we view as the city's improved financial position and low debt despite a challenging national economic environment. The 'A+' SPUR further reflects what we consider the city's: Strong (primarily residential) tax base, with a mix of the industrial and commercial sectors; Good income levels, coupled with an unemployment rate below that of the nation; Strong financial position attributable to conservative budgeting practices followed by the management; and Low debt burden, net of self-supporting enterprise debt. The above credit strengths are partially offset by what we see
