Moody’s Targets Calif. Cities For Downgrades

One of the nation’s top credit rating agencies will review dozens of California cities for possible credit downgrades amid mounting concern over municipal bankruptcies and bond defaults.

Moody’s Investors Service announced Tuesday that it would scrutinize nearly 30 California cities for possible downgrades.

The announcement follows an August report in which Moody’s predicted more municipal bankruptcies and defaults in California, the nation’s largest issuer of municipal bonds. Moody’s warned that some cities are turning to bankruptcy as a new strategy to tackle budget deficits and abandon obligations to bondholders.

Three California cities – Stockton, Stockton, San Bernardino and Mammoth Lakes – filed for bankruptcy over the summer, although Mammoth’s filing was the result of losing a lawsuit.

Moody’s, which rates 95 California cities, also will review San Francisco and Los Angeles for upgrades.

Topics California