Darlene Green: A Clear Record Of Accountability

By Comptroller Darlene Green

The Comptroller is the watchdog of our tax dollars and I am running for reelection on a platform of honesty, integrity and experience. As one constituent recently posted on social media, “Darlene Green has been our only backstop against corruption and questionable practices.”

I’m very excited about the future for our city. My record of accountability is clear.  I’ve had the courage to do the right thing to grow and protect our financial stability.   I’m grateful to serve as the City’s Chief Fiscal Officer working to build the solid financial foundation for our city. 

I believe the best measure of the job I have done as Comptroller is in looking at the results. From a financial and fiscal perspective, 2024 was a great year for the city of St. Louis.  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!

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.

During my tenure we’ve saved St. Louis taxpayers over $150 million by refinancing existing debt.

And while we were saving you money, we saved 3000 high paying jobs with the new NGA West headquarters being rebuilt right here.  That $1.7 billion federal investment that has generated over 1100 construction jobs for our local building trades.

As a member of the Airport Commission. I am also happy that we put together a $2.8 Billion airport expansion and development and selected the locally based firm of HOK as the main design firm. I also worked to stop the ill-conceived privatization of the airport. The airport doesn’t cost city taxpayers a dime as its own enterprise fund. In fact, as a city owned airport it is grandfathered in paying the city a 5% management fee that amounts to $6 million annually.

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 and $151 million in general fund reserves.

Protecting taxpayer dollars has been my continuing focus as Comptroller. A major effort this fall was demanding SLDC get it right regarding ARPA funded grant dollars. Calling for greater transparency and a ‘do-over’ led to $1.7 million in grants being removed for reconsideration. My office pushed hard for continued collaboration from city departments for all-hands-on-deck, and we met our December 31, 2024 deadline to obligate all of the ARPA funds.

I voted to sue the RAMS and we won!  I support using the $270 million dollars to draw matching dollars to invite investment to downtown, to rebirth and rebuild North St. Louis, and shore up areas South. We can do that and support working families with their child care costs.

In June 2024, we saw an attempt by some to eliminate the Office of the Comptroller. Instead of an independent Comptroller, elected by the voters and taxpayers of St. Louis, there would be an appointed finance person. The timing seemed particularly suspicious at a time when the city has hundreds of millions of dollars from the RAMS settlement. I say follow the money.

I alerted the public to this proposal, and the charter commission received overwhelming opposition at a public hearing. They dropped the proposal and preserved the independent ‘watchdog’ of the Office of the Comptroller.

A ballot issue, Proposition B, placed before the voters this fall would have removed the need for E&A to approve budget increases. An aldermanic act could boost spending for any department, making our fiscal controls less stable and potentially hurt our credit rating. I campaigned against Prop B. Voters overwhelmingly agreed and defeated Prop B at the polls.

I support workers and increasing the minimum wage – my opponent voted against increasing the minimum wage as alderman.

I support a woman’s right to choose – my opponent does not.

Over my time in office, I’ve learned that no matter what neighborhood you live in…people want the same things…Safe neighborhoods, jobs, good schools, healthcare and affordable housing. My public safety plan can create safe environments.

My goal is to continue to keep St. Louis in good financial health and to make sure it is an attractive, vibrant and safe city. I will continue the fight for more affordable housing, livable wages, reducing crime, and green sustainable communities. I will also continue to tell it like it is and, as that constituents put it, be the backstop against corruption and questionable practices.

I like the work that I do to help make sure we have the resources to deliver basic city services. And I am always advocating for getting things done. 

I look forward to offering stability and a voice for all city residents and businesses as we keep the city we love moving forward in 2025. 

Thank you.