"A cut below investment grade is a major statement, implying that there is material risk to the city not paying its bondholders on time or in full," said Matt Fabian, a managing partner at Municipal Market Analytics. "To have gone there without waiting to see the city's approach to the current budget gap, or whether or not they will raise revenues is clear demonstration of a lack of confidence in city management. In other words, they see little reason to wait because they expect little in the way of a management response."