FROM THE MAYOR...
“Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
 Over the last several months, I’m sure you have heard about the City’s consideration of school impact fees. After many hours of work between City staff and school officials, the City Council adopted a school
impact fee ordinance on June 5, 2006. The ordinance establishes a land dedication or “fee in-lieu of land requirement” (impact fee) on all new subdivisions constructed in O’Fallon and within our 1.5 mile planning and subdivision review jurisdiction outside the city limits. This vote was the culmination of a great deal of hard work by the City and Districts 90, 203, 104, and 85, in an effort to help the four school districts serving O’Fallon address the impacts caused by residential growth in the area.
State statute and case law dictates a great deal about how the fees were to be calculated. The state law requires school impact fees to be based on “specifically and uniquely attributable” information provided by each school district, not on an ideal standard everyone would like to achieve. We calculated the fees based on information the schools gave us in their Needs Assessments and Capital Facilities Plans. These plans were received by the City on March 22, 2006, and we worked quickly to develop the ordinance.
The City will review the ordinance and the fee schedule at least once each year, or as otherwise necessary, to ensure the fees stay current with the growth of the community and with the needs of the schools. The fees as adopted in the ordinance are shown in the table below.
Summary Table of Impact Fees by School District
Impact Fee By Housing Type
School District SF-Detached SF-Attached MF-Apartments
Shiloh Dist. 85:
Elementary $ 248.51 $ 50.74 $ 26.31
Jr. High 784.62 129.25 120.36
Sr. High (Dist. 203) 280.22 70.23 44.22
TOTAL $1,313.35 $250.22 $190.89
O’Fallon Dist. 90:
Elementary $ 776.44 $158.53 $ 82.21
Jr. High 368.25 60.66 56.49
Sr. High (Dist. 203) 280.22 70.23 44.22
TOTAL $1,424.91 $289.42 $182.92
Central Dist. 104:
Elementary $ 330.70 $ 67.52 $ 35.02
Jr. High 784.62 129.25 120.36
Sr. High (Dist. 203) 280.22 70.23 44.22
TOTAL $1,395.54 $267.00 $199.60
We realize each of these four schools are experiencing significant challenges in addressing the pressures resulting from the residential growth in O’Fallon, Shiloh, Fairview Heights, and in rural St. Clair County. It should be noted that this fee is not intended to replace, nor could it replace, the other funding mechanisms the schools have at their disposal for facility construction efforts. This fee is only a supplement to their normal means of funding facility construction. So, will the fee help? You bet, but it is still only a portion of what’s needed.
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
| 
