JOHNSON CITY LEADERS HAVE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT TODAY AFTER RECENTLY RECEIVING SOME GOOD FINANCIAL NEWS. FITCH RATINGS ASSIGNED THE CITY AN INITIAL AA RATING WHICH HELPS IT REACH A NEW LEVEL OF CREDIT. JOHNSON CITY JUST COMPLETED A REALLY TOUGH BUDGET PREPARATION PROCESS FOR THE 2008-2009 FISCAL YEAR. THE CITY’S FINANCIAL ADVISER HAS SAID THE RATING IS COMPARABLE TO A CONSUMER IMPROVING HIS OR HER CREDIT SCORE AND RECEIVING A BETTER INTEREST RATE. THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS NEARLY 172.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN OUTSTANDING BONDS.