The Town of East Hampton has once again earned a Aaa credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service, reaffirming the Town’s position among the most fiscally stable municipalities in the country. This marks the ninth consecutive year East Hampton has held Moody’s highest rating.
In its latest report, Moody’s cited East Hampton’s “strong finances” and “favorable and desirable location” as primary credit strengths. The Town’s long-standing role as a premier vacation destination and the continued growth in its year-round population due to remote work trends were also highlighted as contributing factors.
“This rating reflects our disciplined approach to budgeting and our long-term financial planning,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “It’s a recognition of the thoughtful work that goes into every decision we make, work that allows us to invest in critical infrastructure, affordable housing, and environmental protection. I want to thank our outstanding Finance Department for their professionalism, diligence, and year-round efforts that make this possible.”
Moody’s praised the Town’s efforts to manage environmental risks, particularly those related to severe weather events. The agency noted East Hampton’s proactive capital planning and strong coordination with state and federal agencies, including recent work on beach renourishment and shoreline resilience. While federal commitments remain uncertain, the Town’s strong local support and fiscal capacity provide stability.
The report also recognized the Town’s healthy reserves, strong liquidity, and conservative fiscal management. While 2024 saw a planned drawdown of reserves for one-time capital projects and land acquisition, operations remained balanced. Positive trends are expected to continue through the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
“Our ability to maintain the highest possible credit rating reflects years of sound financial management and careful planning. We’ve continued to make progress on key priorities while preserving the Town’s financial flexibility and long-term stability.” said Town Administrator Rebecca Hansen.