The town of Dartmouth is not likely to stiff any of its funders anytime soon, which pays off for residents.

The town’s long term debt totals $57,096,212, but Dartmouth is more than capable of paying it back, according to a recent audit. Auditors assigned the town a AAA rating for its good practices, which is the highest rating it could receive.

This means that, because the town is fiscally responsible, it won't have trouble borrowing. Town Administrator David Cressman explained why that’s a good thing for residents.

"The higher the bond rating, the lower the interest charge when we have to go out to borrow funds, which saves taxpayers in the long term," said Cressman.

The town received the same AAA rating last year as well. The audit was completed by Melanson Heath.

Other noteworthy findings from the audit:

• As of January 2017, the town’s unemployment rate totals 4.8 percent. Bristol County’s unemployment rate is 5.4 percent.
• Retail plazas in town continue to have high sales and low vacancy rate, which contributes to the town's income. The Dartmouth Mall will welcome H&M and Torrid within the coming months.
• Over the past several years, the town has hosted more than 200,000 square feet in new medical facilities, with a building value totaling $44,820,000.
• The town offsets more than 90 percent of its energy use with solar power purchase agreements.