Three years ago, the Nampa School District erased a $5.3 million shortfall.

This week, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Nampa’s bond rating — for the third successive year.

The state’s third-largest district now has an A2 rating.

Moody’s cited several reasons for the upgrade: improved internal fiscal controls; a two-year, $15.56 million supplemental levy, passed in 2015; and a commitment to building the district’s budget reserves. Nampa has built up a 5 percent budget reserve.

“We recognize that it is important to use the money we receive from the public in a wise and prudent fashion, and we are dedicated to providing the best education to our students while maintaining a balanced budget,” district finance director Randy Dewey said in a news release.