RubinBrown Public Sector Stats 2016

St. Louis Metropolitan Area

41 NUMBER OF

22,000 AVERAGE POPULATION

4.4% MEDIAN CHANGE IN NET POSITION

32

MUNICIPALITIES

unrestricted General Fund balance as % of expenditures (median – all cities)

unrestricted General Fund balance as % of expenditures (median – all cities) The results for the St. Louis area prior to 2015 reflected a significant slowing down of the economic recovery and related revenue growth. The median change in et position for St. Louis municipalities went from 6.3% to 3.3% from 2012 to 2014. This was a time of growth but at a very slow pace. In 2015 the median change in net position was a much healthier 4.4%. Still, 10 of the 41 St. Louis municipalities (or 24%) reported a decrease in government-wide net position in 2015, as compared with 22% in 2014. The cause of this increased growth in net position is evident when revenue per capita and expenses per capita are examined. As indicated in the chart below, median revenue per capita for St. Louis municipalities increased significantly in 2015. This is a strong reflection of an improving economy and tax revenue growth. Expenses also increased per capita but at a slower pace than revenues as compared to prior years. Another important metric is the amount of debt governments are taking on. Long- term debt per capita in the St. Louis region (which excludes pension or other non- bonded debt) has been decreasing since 2011. New issuances have not been very strong except for refundings which do not increase total debt outstanding. Finally, the most scrutinized ratio is the general fund’s unrestricted fund balance as compared to operating expenditures. Although decreasing, this shows a very strong financial position for the St. Louis city governments with close to 50% of annual expenditures in unrestricted fund balance. ST. LOUIS KANSAS CITY DENVER TENNESSEE

55.1%

2011

56.1%

2012

56.9%

2013

48.3%

2014

46.1%

2015

45% 50% 55% 60%

median Dollars Per capita

$1,250

$1,017

$1,008

$1,008

$996

$923

$1,000

Tax Revenue Expenses Total Debt

$840

$780

$760

$745

$738

$750

$734

$680

$620

$500

$539

$480

$250

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

6 | RubinBrown Public Sector Stats 2016