Standard and Poor's has upgraded Jackson County's bond rating.
S & P says the upgrade from A-minus to A indicates the county's sustained budgetary improvement and flexibility.
County board finance and administration committee chair Elizabeth Hunter says she and her colleagues are very cognizant of their financial responsibility.
"Being a lot more responsible with funding, just making sure that all expenses are necessary, but that we also haven't lost any of our vital services in the county."
Hunter says they've been able to balance short-term, immediate budget needs with long-term liabilities such as retirement funds. But, she says there is always room for improvement.
"One thing we hope to do over the next year or so is to go even further and develop a long-term plan for county financials. Just to hopefully add to and enhance the work we've done so far."
S & P says its rating increase was based in part on Jackson County's nine million dollars in cash available for liquidity and a budget surplus at the end of the 2015 fiscal year.
