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Two days after Maryland lost its long coveted AAA bond rating from Moody's, another firm maintained the state's top rating. Fitch Ratings, one of three credit rating agencies, on Thursday assigned an AAA rating to specific general obligation bonds and securities, calling the state's rating outlook "stable." Fitch stated that Maryland's "financial resilience is extremely strong, with well-funded budgetary reserves, consensus-oriented decision-making with a historical willingness to trim spending and increase revenues, and a disciplined multiyear forecasting and planning process." The state's Democratic leadership — from the governor to the treasurer and comptroller, as well as the presiding officers of the General Assembly — issued a statement Friday afternoon on the Fitch report, citing, what it called, spending cuts amid federal challenges.
WBALTV.com has reached out to Senate and House Republican leadership for a statement and will update this report upon receipt .
Moody's downgrades Maryland's long-held AAA rating
This comes two days after
Moody's Ratings downgraded its bond rating for Maryland from AAA to Aa1 . That means when the state goes to sell its bonds to fund essential services and infrastructure — including new schools, roads, bridges, ambulances and public safety equipment — Maryland could end up paying more in interest on the borrowed money. Regionally, Washington, D.C., received the same fate from the credit rating agency. Maryland has received an AAA rating every year since 1973, according to Moody's. A year ago, the state maintained its top credit rating from Moody's. In 2014, then-Gov. Martin O'Malley boasted how
Maryland was among only seven states to maintain the top rating throughout the recession.