FROM THE MAYOR...
“Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
 With the holidays behind us and 2008 just beginning, I would like to take this
opportunity to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year. The beginning
of each new year is the perfect time for us to reflect on the activities of the past
year as well as look ahead at the exciting possibilities that our future holds.
The New Year promises to be another great year for our City. A major project that has been discussed for the past eight years is a railroad overpass at Venita Drive at the southwest corner of the new Family Sports Park. During 2008, preliminary planning for this important project will begin. To date, we have secured $3.6 million from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to fund the project and have reserved $2.4 million of the City’s Motor Fuel Tax funds to provide the required 40% match for the estimated $6 million cost of the project. Based on correspondence from the ICC, construction could begin in the fall of 2011.
Another exciting project is The Regency Conference Center at Exit 16, which is scheduled to open in May. In addition to these two projects, we continue to pursue numerous commercial building projects that will bring more tax dollars to our City. While the residential building market has slowed down some, the commercial market in O’Fallon has picked up and we expect the trend to continue throughout 2008.
Last year (2007), was a great year in O’Fallon with the opening of the first phase of the new Family Sports Park, the ground breaking for our new conference center, many new retail businesses locating in our City, and many other activities and projects. All these projects dramatically add to our quality of life and help to make O’Fallon a wonderful place to reside and raise your family.
Another positive activity that occurred in 2007 was the recognition of the Fire Department as a full-fledged city department within the Department of Public Safety. Volunteer firefighters are now part-time City employees and the Fire Chief position remains a part-time position. The changes were adopted by the City Council in response to recommendations that came from the McGrath Fire Study. Our elected officials are proud of the excellent services that our volunteer firefighters have demonstrated in our community for generations, and it is our goal to keep our Fire Department a volunteer department for the next 20 years and beyond. We are committed to keeping your tax dollars as low as possible and are not interested in spending $4 million a year for a full-time department when our
volunteers are as highly rated nationally as full-time departments and have excellent response times.
Speaking of taxes, there was a lot of media coverage at the end of 2007 regarding the amount of property taxes you pay to the numerous taxing bodies each year. A small percentage of your total tax bill is for City of O’Fallon services (approximately 11%). The City Council and I make every effort possible to reduce the amount of money you pay to the City. In fact, we have lowered the City tax rate every year for the past 12 years. In theory, the amount of dollars you pay to the City of O’Fallon in 2008 should be less than what you paid in 2007. If that is not the case, one or both of the following has happened: 1) St. Clair County has increased the assessed value of your property, and/or 2) the State of Illinois has added a multiplier. The State adds a
multiplier when it feels that the property in a certain area is not being assessed at its full equalized value. As a City, we cannot contest the State multiplier but we can, and will, pass a Home Rule ordinance that will prevent the multiplier from increasing the City portion of your property tax bill. The net effect will be a reduction in the taxes you pay to the City of O’Fallon.
Another important issue that we continue to work on is stormwater management. In November/December 2007, the City Council voted to place a stormwater referendum on the February 5, 2008 ballot. The referendum has since been removed due to several factors. One factor is the limited amount of time available to finalize details on how the utility would work and how the fees would be assessed. The decision to remove the referendum question was not taken lightly, but the City Council and I are committed to providing the voters in O’Fallon with all the facts regarding this complicated referendum question so that you can make an informed decision at the polls. As a result, staff will take some time to focus on the core stormwater needs in O’Fallon and discuss options with
the City Council on where to proceed from here. If the City Council chooses to place a utility referendum back on the ballot, the next election date is November 4, 2008.
It is an honor to serve as your Mayor, and I appreciate being given the opportunity to work for the residents of O’Fallon. I am willing to meet one-on-one with anyone who has a concern about any issues related to our city. I welcome your suggestions and comments and encourage you to contact me at 624-4500. It is through your input and dialog on important issues that we will make O’Fallon an even better place to live and work.
Gary L. Graham
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