Standard&Poor's Ratings Services raised its underlying rating (SPUR) on Wharton, Texas' general obligation (GO) debt one notch to 'A+' from 'A' based on Standard&Poor's local GO criteria, published Sept. 12, 2013, on RatingsDirect. The outlook is stable. Ad valorem taxes levied, within the limits prescribed by law, against all taxable property in the city secure the bonds and certificates. The rating reflects our opinion of the following credit factors for Wharton: We view Wharton's local economy as very weak with projected per capita effective buying income of 60% of the national average. Market value is roughly $44,500 per capita. Assessed value (AV) growth has been consistent, and officials are projecting AV growth for the upcoming 2014
