Statement by Comptroller Darlene Green on the Mayor’s veto of Board Bill 221

(St. Louis – February 26, 2021) Comptroller Darlene Green issued the following statement today on Mayor Lyda Krewson's Feb. 25 veto of Board Bill 221:

The mayor made the fiscally responsible call by vetoing Board Bill 221, and I encourage the Board of Aldermen to consider her comments, as well as the comments I and Budget Director Paul Payne have made previously in opposition to BB221.

There can be no doubt: being a firefighter is one of the most challenging jobs in the city. Each and every one of us depend on our firefighters for their bravery and experience.

We respect our firefighters and all first responders and want to support healthy pension plans.

I believe it is possible to address the major inequities between the old (FRS) and current (FRP) pension plans while still maintaining city control of the current plan.

I look forward to working with other city leaders, firefighters and retirees to ensure that our pension plans are fair, competitive and fiscally responsible.

On Jan. 21, Comptroller Green issued a statement, raising concerns that Board Bill 221 was fiscally challenging and would undo many of the hard-earned gains from pension reform.

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Comptroller Darlene Green is the chief fiscal officer of the City of St. Louis and is charged with safeguarding the city’s credit rating and with protecting taxpayer dollars. She is the recipient of the 2019 Women in Public Finance Lifetime Achievement award. Visit www.stlouis-mo.gov/comptroller to learn more about the Office of the Comptroller.