Ratings agencies unfazed as county pension costs rise
Despite dire warnings that future pension costs could cause a fiscal meltdown for tri-county governments, credit ratings for Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo county bonds remain mostly unaffected by looming gaps in their retirement obligation funding.
Standard & Poor’s, a leading rating agency, ranks all three counties near the top of a scale that spans from its highest AAA to C, the lowest rating a bond can have without defaulting. Santa Barbara County carries the agency’s second highest AA-plus designation. Ventura County is assigned a slightly lower AA-rating this year and SLO County is ranked AA-minus.
Paso looks to future after long-delayed step toward 11 AVAs
The TTB designates viticultural areas to help vintners better describe the origin of their wines and to inform consumers about wines they might purchase.
Banking on downtown SLO: Heritage Oaks buys former Union Bank building
The multimillion-dollar sale of a prime property in the heart of the Central Coast’s busiest downtown comes amid a flurry of building activity that had some developers bidding on the lot in hopes of developing the bank building’s adjacent parking lot, which faces the corner of Marsh and Osos streets. But the timing was too good for Heritage Oaks to pass the location up, said Simone Lagomarsino, the bank’s CEO.
Central Coast opens doors for flood of Chinese tourists
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Last plant standing: PG&E touts safety upgrades at Diablo Canyon
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Deli owners restore 1940s Santa Barbara cocktail lounge
Make that four pickles. The father-and-son team behind Three Pickles Deli + Sub in downtown Santa Barbara have bought a next-door business and are revamping the classic cocktail lounge, even bringing back a former bartender and historic sign. The new spot, named The Pickle Room, will have a grand opening on Oct. 5. It is Read More →
