2022/11/28 - Mayor's Column: Updates
“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
The end of the calendar year is approaching rapidly. That means the city must prepare its annual tax levies/rates for the coming year. It is not an easy task when we don’t receive the final value of taxable property or the final amount of tax exempted property until well after the first of the year. Sometimes it feels like the fieldgoal posts are always moving.
Since the city must pass its requested tax dollars in December, we work from the best numbers that we can get by late November or early December to put forth our request. We always try to be conservative in our forecasted numbers.
We will, as we have for the last 5 years, work to maintain or lower the City tax levy, but we already know that the amount of tax-exempt property in the city has increased by about $10 Million.
This and the City’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan will be discussed and voted on by the Council over the course of the next month.
On a brighter side, we just completed going out for bids on our property, liability and worker’s compensation insurance. We are proud to say that it looks like we will have a savings to the City of about $200,000.
Work has started on the upgrade to our Wastewater Treatment Plant. When completed it will put our plant in full compliance with all Federal and State EPA requirements and should produce an annual operating expense savings of close to $200,000.
Several of us attended the East-West Gateway Council of Governments Luncheon this past week. Two of our former Council Members Mr. Kevin Hagarty and Mr. Dan Witt were honored for their past service and our program for Resident Utility Assistance Program was recognized.
Please remember that the change over from Homefield Energy to Constellation New Energy for electrical usage is under way. If you wish to stay with our aggregate supplier that has been chosen by the consortium of cities that have worked on this, you do not have to do anything. In February you will be receiving your electricity from Constellation. If you have any questions, please call us and we will be glad to answer your questions. The rates are increasing but not as much as Ameren and we expect larger savings in the months ahead.
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.