Some Accomplishments

• Saved the city more than $55 million through the refinancing and refunding of outstanding bonds and other debt. This includes $2.3 million saved so far in fiscal year 2005. These innovative financial transactions are successful because of the comptroller's office policy of voting for the most qualified financial firms to represent the city.
• Saved the city's taxpayers $10.7 million in fiscal year 2003 through ideas proposed in her revenue enhancement plan. This was accomplished by refunding the outstanding Convention Center Bonds which resulted in $9.5 million and the addition of $1.2 million in proceeds from the refinancing of Mortgage Revenue Bonds.
• Spearheaded the effort to get the city's credit rating up to an "A" category rating from all three Wall St. ratings agencies through five (5) credit ratings upgrades during her tenure. The city's ability to maintain this "A" category rating ensures the lowest possible insurance rates on bond issues, creates a favorable environment for private investment within the city, and spurs economic and revenue growth.
• Initiated a government-wide policy in 2004 requiring all city employees use personal codes for long distance calls. This policy cost nothing to implement and dramatically reduced the number of personal long distance calls charged to the city's general fund. This policy holds individual employees accountable for long distance charges and is saving taxpayers thousands of dollars a year.
• Created a confidential, toll-free fraud reporting hotline that went active on Feb. 1, 2005. This hotline gives city employees and the general public a quick, easy, free and confidential way to report fraud. The fraud hotline is another tool for the comptroller's office to use to protect taxpayer dollars.
• Negotiated the sale and found developers for two excess city-owned properties in 2003-04 netting the city's capital improvement fund $2.2 million. The properties, 1300 Convention Plaza and Truman Restorative Center (5700 Arsenal St.), were sold to local developers who plan to convert them into new and rehabilitated residential and commercial space. The developers are expected to spend close to $23 million to complete the two projects.
• Worked with city officials to get St. Louis taxpayers a better deal on construction of the St. Louis Cardinals' new downtown stadium. Because of Comptroller Green's efforts, city taxpayers saved millions that would have instead gone to the Cardinals' owners. This tax money continues to be used to fund city services and other municipal operations.
• Enriched the city's coffers for FY 2003 by $3 million and safeguarded an additional $12 million in Department of Health grant funding by initiating a fiscal review of that department's accounting practices. The city would have likely lost this vital health care funding if Comptroller Green did not intervene quickly and decisively.
• Funded more than $2 billion in capital improvement projects since 1996. This $2 billion includes financing for the new City Justice Center, the recently completed Convention Center Hotels, Expansion at Lambert Airport, the restoration of Forest Park, and numerous public safety projects. This massive amount of public investment reflects St. Louis' healthy financial condition and makes the city more attractive to private investors and developers.
• Secured a unanimous vote by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to give all city employees at least a 1.5 percent cost of living pay increase for the 2003 fiscal year. City workers attending the meeting cheered when all three members of the board agreed on the raise. Comptroller Green was the major proponent for this across the board pay increase for all city employees. This pay increase was a much needed morale boost for all hard working city employees and helped them pay for cost of living increases and escalating health insurance costs.
• Helped develop the city's Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy that continues to create and nurture strong public/private investment partnerships. TIF is a means for qualified developers to receive local tax incentives in return for funding improvement projects that demonstrate significant public benefit by creating economic stability, employment and tax revenue. TIF has provided the financial catalyst for a large portion of much needed development and economic activity throughout the City.
• Supported the ordinance the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed in 2002 which allowed an additional $3.5 million of Use Tax dollars, in addition to the previous $1.5 million, to go to St. Louis ConnectCare in FY 2002. The ordinance also dedicated $5 million for FY 2003 and became a line item in the FY 2003 city budget. Comptroller Green worked closely with Dr. Larry Fields, former President and CEO of ConnectCare and Alderman Greg Carter to get the ordinance together so the funding could be secured.
• Received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting every year since becoming Comptroller in 1995. This award is presented for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) compiled by the Comptroller's Office. This GFOA certificate recognizes and encourages excellence in financial reporting by state and local governments.
• Brought a policy of professionalism and service to the Comptroller's Office since taking office in 1995. Comptroller Darlene Green remains committed to using every resource at her disposal in order to generate revenue for the city, safeguard the city's credit rating and ensure taxpayer money is spent wisely.