Moody's sees negative outlook for Alaska's credit rating

The outlook for Alaska’s credit rating has worsened from neutral to negative, according to Moody’s Investors Services.

The announcement on Thursday doesn’t change the state’s credit rating, but Moody’s said there’s now increased pressure to downgrade the rating in the next year or two.

Moody’s analyst Edward Hampton said that with the focus on full permanent fund dividends, the goal of balancing the budget has moved to the back burner.

“It sort of created some risks and doubt about other issues,” Hampton said of the PFD. “For example, what is the state’s plan to regain something that looks like structural balance over the long term?”

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/07/26/moodys-sees-negative-outlook-for-alaskas-credit-rating/