(Lawrenceville, Ga., December 8, 2011) - Moody's Investors Services notified Gwinnett County on Wednesday that it had revised the County's Aaa credit rating to a stable outlook, upgraded from a negative outlook assigned in August. Confirmation of the U.S. government's Aaa rating and assignment of a negative outlook due to the national debt ceiling dispute last summer caused Moody's to place 161 local governments, including Gwinnett, on a watch list for a possible credit rating downgrade.

Since the August announcement, Moody's has had discussions with each of the credit issuers and conducted additional studies to further gauge their indirect linkages to the U.S. government. According to the rating agency, approximately 4% of all Moody's-rated state and local governments are rated Aaa with a stable outlook.

Gwinnett County has maintained the highest bond rating - Aaa from Moody's and AAA from Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings - since 1997. Officials attribute this achievement to the organization's conservative fiscal policies and management, multi-year financial planning and ample reserves.

"I am grateful to the finance staff members who were responsible for the preparation and communications with the rating service," said Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. "Few events in my career have been more exciting than the attainment of AAA/Aaa from the three rating services. I am thrilled to have Moody's return us to stable outlook."