Comptroller Green Looks Back at 2024, Celebrates Political Victories
After a relatively quiet 2023, Comptroller Darlene Green spent 2024 actively raising public awareness about key issues facing the city. Her office recently released a year-end reflection addressing the state of the city’s credit rating, the budget, and a look back at the issues that brought her back into the forefront of local policy discussions.
On financial issues, the Comptroller struck an optimistic tone. Regarding St. Louis City’s beleaguered credit rating, she stated, “Through our budget controls, prudent spending, and strong financial management, we were able to secure a coveted AA credit rating for St. Louis City for the first time in 50 years!” After decades of declining ratings from major credit agencies, this marks a significant improvement in the city’s financial outlook. She continued, “This improved credit rating is good news for the city and its taxpayers. Not only are borrowing costs reduced, but an improved credit rating is one of the best measures of our performance. We have used our strong financial position to leverage billions in development over the years. Another bright spot is the continuing budget surpluses our city has maintained. Although we must consider low staffing levels as a factor, we end 2024 with a $42 million budget surplus.”
One of the key issues Comptroller Green addressed was the future of her own office. The charter commission had seriously considered asking voters to eliminate the elected Comptroller position. “Instead of an independent Comptroller, elected by the voters and taxpayers of St. Louis, there would be an appointed finance person under the control of the Mayor’s office. The timing seemed particularly suspicious at a time when the city has hundreds of millions of dollars from the Rams settlement. I alerted the public to this proposal, and the charter commission received overwhelming opposition at a public hearing,” Comptroller Green wrote. Reformers had proposed replacing the Comptroller position with a Public Advocate role. However, this proposal was ultimately dropped, This followed controversy that led to changes in the commission’s leadership.
The letter also highlighted the defeat of Proposition B, which would have altered the city’s budgeting process by eliminating the Comptroller’s role in the annual budget approval process. The proposition sought to give the Board of Aldermen greater authority in the process. Comptroller Green was one of the few elected officials to campaign against the measure. Her argument that the aldermen might make poor, self-interested budgetary decisions resonated with enough voters to prevent the change.
