RubinBrown Public Sector Stats 2015

St. Louis Metropolitan Area

41 NUMBER OF

22,000 AVERAGE POPULATION

0.4% AVERAGE CHANGE IN NET POSITION

MUNICIPALITIES

Unrestricted General Fund Balance as a % of Revenue (average – all cities)

The 2014 results for the St. Louis area reflect a slowing down of the economic recovery. The average change in net position for St. Louis municipalities increased only 0.4% compared to an increase of 3.2% in 2013. Furthermore, 9 of the 41 St. Louis municipalities (or 22%) reported a decrease in government-wide net position in 2014, as compared with 19% in 2013. The cause of the change in net position is evident when average revenue per capita and average expenses per capita are examined. As indicated in the chart below, revenue per capita for St. Louis municipalities remained flat in 2014 while expenses increased 3.3%. Another important indicator is how much debt the region is taking on. Long-term debt per capita in the St. Louis region (which excludes pension and other non-bonded debt) rose in 2014. Finally, the most scrutinized ratio is the general fund’s unrestricted fund balance as compared to revenues. Excluding 2010, this has remained relatively flat over the past 5 years at a healthy 59.0%.

36.2%

50.0%

2010

30.9%

58.1%

2011

35.7%

59.2%

2012

32.5%

60.1%

2013

35.6%

59.0%

2014

50.0% 55.0% 60.0%

Average Dollars Per Capita

$1,500

$1,349

$1,301

$1,296

$1,197

$1,159

$1,075

Tax Revenue Expenses Total Debt

$1,164

$1,147

$1,130

$1,094

$1,000

$963

$928

$928

$924

$853

$500

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

8 | RubinBrown Public Sector Stats 2015