TOMS RIVER – Ocean County has once again received a AAA bond rating from Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, reaffirming the County's long standing record of fiscal strength and responsible financial management.

The Board of Commissioners announced that Ocean County continues to benefit from a strong and expanding local economy. While the County remains anchored by its valuable beachfront communities, continued growth and development in inland areas are strengthening and diversifying the County's revenue base.

Ocean County's financial reserves remain stable and are expected to hold steady through the remainder of 2026. The County also maintains low debt levels, particularly when compared to other counties in New Jersey, which further supports long term financial stability and allows the County to borrow at the most favorable interest rates when funding capital projects.

The County first achieved a AAA rating in 2010 and continues to uphold this top rating with a stable outlook thanks to a strong fiscal management team. According to Moody's Investors Service, the rating reflects Ocean County's large and diverse tax base, modest debt profile, and consistently healthy financial operations.

The Board of Commissioners emphasized that maintaining fiscal stability remains a central priority each budget year. Ocean County's stable outlook recognizes that strong budget management will continue to support minimal volatility in operations, a growing tax base, and a debt level that is unlikely to increase significantly.

The AAA rating provides substantial benefits to taxpayers, including access to lower interest costs when financing capital improvement projects. Ocean County regularly bonds larger projects so costs can be distributed over multiple years. These projects often include road and bridge improvements, upgrades to County buildings, and investments in long term infrastructure that serve residents across all communities.

The Board noted that these capital improvements remain essential to keeping Ocean County government operations efficient and prepared for future needs. The strong bond rating helps ensure the County can continue making these investments responsibly while saving money for residents in the long term.