Debt Types
General obligation debt
The City can issue general obligation debt subject to the Board of Finance, City Council, the Baltimore Delegation to the General Assembly of Maryland, and the voters of the City approval. This debt is backed by the full faith, credit, taxing power of the City. The City is obligated and directed by law to levy ad valorem taxes in rate and amount sufficient to pay the debt on the bonds.
Tax increment financing
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is an important and useful tool available to Baltimore City to encourage development of certain projects that are desirable and in the public interest, and that would not occur without assistance from the City.
Bond Ratings
| Long-Term Bond Ratings | Moody's Rating | Standard & Poor's Rating |
| General Obligations Bond | Aa2 | AA |
| Water Senior Lien | Aa2 | A+ |
| Wastewater Senior Lien | Aa3 | AA- |
| Water Subordinate Lien | Aa3 | A |
| Wastewater Subordinate Lien | A1 | A+ |
| Stormwater Senior Lien | Aa2 | AA- |