Comptroller Darlene Green supports a public vote on the privatization of St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Today, Comptroller Darlene Green issued the following statement supporting a public vote on the privatization of St. Louis Lambert International Airport:

“My position has been and will always be that the citizens of St. Louis are smart enough and informed enough to make important decisions about major assets and long-term economic strategies by public vote. It is arrogance for elected officials to place themselves as the ultimate authorities and strip the public of its right to vote when the offices they hold are owed to public trust. Our obligation as elected officials is to the people who elected us, not to any outside special interest.”

In June 2018, Comptroller Green voted against an advisory consulting agreement for the privatization of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, stating that a public vote must be a part of the process and citing the airport’s strong financial position, passenger growth and operational management.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport has been a public entity since 1928 when St. Louis voters approved a $2 million bond issue to buy the airport property. Today, the airport is in a strong financial position, showing three credit rating upgrades in 2018 and three years of passenger growth.

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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. Visit www.stlouis-mo.gov/comptroller to learn more about the Office of the Comptroller.