BOISE, ID – Fitch Ratings has affirmed Idaho’s AAA credit rating for the fifth year in a row, according to an announcement Thursday. The AAA rating is the highest credit rating a state can receive and is held by only a small number of states each year.
Governor Brad Little acknowledged the news, crediting the state’s budgetary practices and economic strategy. “Thanks to our diligent and unrelenting focus on maintaining a structurally balanced budget and saving healthy amounts for rainy days, Idaho has maintained the AAA rating from Fitch for five straight years,” Governor Little said. “The rating means we’ll save Idaho taxpayers millions of dollars on future projects.”
Fitch’s announcement cited several factors supporting Idaho’s continued AAA status:
- Idaho’s long-term revenue trend, adjusted for policy changes, is projected to outpace national GDP growth.
- The state’s long-term debt is expected to remain low despite recent investments in infrastructure and education.
- Idaho’s financial practices, including reserve building and balanced budgets, position the state to manage potential economic or revenue downturns.
- The state’s population grew by 27.7% from 2010 to 2024, significantly above the national growth rate of 10.2%.
- Idaho’s economy has seen recent diversification, with notable growth in transportation, business services, retail, construction, and healthcare.
Governor Little also recognized the role of the Idaho Legislature and private sector partners in supporting policies that contribute to fiscal stability and economic growth.