The nation’s leading bond rating agencies have given Bellevue its top top rating. Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s last week gave Bellevue AAA and Aaa ratings, respectively.

The ratings – the highest available to an organization – indicate the level of risk of city bonds. The high ratings means the city will pay lower interest rates on money it borrows for capital projects.

“That Bellevue continues to receive the highest rating available is a tribute to the fiscal stewardship exercised by everyone in the organization,” said Jan Hawn, the city’s finance director. “City staff made sure we lived within our means the last few years as we wrestled with the economic downturn.”

Hawn said Bellevue is in a “great” position to finance some of its major capital projects, such as work related to the East Link light rail line.