How did the US have a balanced budget during the Clinton Years and still had an increase to Federal debt?

During the Clinton years, the U.S. achieved a balanced budget primarily through a combination of increased tax revenues, particularly from higher income tax rates on the wealthy, and effective spending control measures. However, even with a balanced budget, federal debt continued to rise due to the issuance of new debt to cover previous deficits and obligations, such as Social Security and other entitlements. Additionally, the government used surplus revenues to pay down some debt, but not to the extent of eliminating it entirely, leading to an overall increase in federal debt levels.