2021/12/14: We Are Looking Forward to 2022!
“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
Now is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and look forward to 2022. Here is a brief rundown:
CITY TAX RATE: REAL-ESTATE
The City of O’Fallon has rolled back its portion of your real-estate tax rate to the lowest that it has been in 35 years. This is the 4th straight year that the Council has done so. This amounts to over a 5% decrease in the amount of property taxes you pay to help fund City operations.
CITY DEBT
The city has continued to lower its debt. At the end of the last Fiscal Year, the city has reduced its debt by over $20 million (or over 30%) during the last 4 years.
NEW WARD BOUNDARIES
During the upcoming months, the City Council will establish new Ward Boundaries. This is required after each ten-year census to even out the size of the population in each Ward.
EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS AT O’FALLON’S SEWER PLANT
Over the next year the City Sewer Plant will undergo a major improvement. The work being performed will do three things:
- It will make sure that the facility is in full compliance with new tighter regulations that have been put in place.
- It will reduce operating costs by over $300,000 a year
- It will allow us significant room for growth in the future
This expansion and change will be financed through a State Loan at 1.1% interest.
NEW STATE LEGISLATION GOING INTO EFFECT
Portions of the Criminal Justice Reform Legislation, which impact the requirements for cash bail, pretrial release, eligibility for release, certification of law enforcement officers and decertification of law enforcement officers, officer worn body cameras and more will go into effect.
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open.