KENTUCKY — The Commonwealth's post-pandemic economic outlook is looking good, according to analysts from a major credit rating agency.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced that one of the big three credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, improved the state’s financial outlook from negative to stable, reflecting the commonwealth’s solid economic recovery from the pandemic.

In the periodic rating report issued Tuesday, analysts wrote that the rating “reflects the Commonwealth’s solid ability to control revenues and expenditures to maintain fiscal balance, a declining reliance on one-time measures and an elevated but still moderate long-term liability position.”

“This improvement further indicates Kentucky is poised to sprint out of this pandemic and be a leader in the post-COVID economy,” Beshear said in a statement to Spectrum News 1. “Thanks to responsible fiscal management by my administration, even in the midst of a pandemic, our financial outlook is improving. We’re going to continue to work hard and make sure we are always treating Kentuckians’ money for what it is – their money.”

The new rating also highlights how Kentucky’s employment recovery through March has been slightly ahead of the national pace. Additionally, the report notes significant progress in addressing the state’s pension contribution shortfalls and making full actuarial contributions for all systems as of fiscal year 2019.

Kentucky ended fiscal year 2020 with a $177.5 million general fund surplus. The state made a $162.5 million deposit into its Budget Reserve Trust Fund, or rainy day fund, bringing the balance to an all-time high of $465.7 million or 4% of fiscal year 2020 general fund revenue.

On April 30, the Governor said that the fiscal year 2021 third quarter economic and revenue report indicates the state will end the current fiscal year with large surpluses.

“Recent estimates suggest we are going to end our fiscal year with a more than $586 million surplus in the general fund, and even a $12 million surplus in the road fund,” the Governor said. “What that will mean is that we will end up with over a billion dollars in our rainy day fund. It is the most money ever in a rainy day fund in Kentucky by both dollars and percentage of the total budget.”

Beshear said the state is also preparing to create more than 14,500 new jobs through a bipartisan agreement reached by lawmakers and his administration during the 2021 regular session. Nearly $1.3 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds will be used to boost the state’s economy by expanding broadband, delivering clean drinking water and building new schools.