2023/02/06 - Mayor's Column: New Static Due Date for Utility Customers
“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
Over the years there have been many questions from our water and sewer utility customers about when their utility bills are due for payment. For many years, we used a floating due date, meaning that due dates could go anywhere from the 21st to the 28th of the month. We had this floating due date because it allowed for our staff to read meters, calculate fees, print and stuff envelopes, mail bills, and allow time for payment. However, with improvements that we have made in our utility and billing system, we are now able to complete all of these steps and provide a static due date for our customers.
We are happy to announce that we have created a static due date going forward. This change is being made to help people get through tough budget times. It will give our customers a consistent date that they can plan on each month.
Going forward, bills to all our O’Fallon customers will be mailed around the 15th of each month, and they will be due on the 5th of the following month. This will occur every month regardless of the day of the week or if there is a holiday.
For our customers in Fairview Heights and outside O’Fallon City limits, bills will be mailed around the 30th of the month and will be due on the 20th of the next month.
To make this transition of dates, our water customers will be receiving a 2-week bill that will be mailed out on February 10th. This was done to make the transition easier instead of getting a bill for a 6-week period.
I want to thank our staff for looking at how we can improve this age-old process and make it more convenient for you, our customers. Our Utility Billing Staff that made this possible were: Kim Reynolds, Gretchen Stadts, Corrine Tice, Daija Barber, Cierra Williams, and Eric Williams.
I hope that being consistent with when the bill is due will be beneficial to our customers and cause less confusion to you. Our chief objective was to reduce the confusion that has existed in the past and allow you to plan better with your budgets by having a consistent date.
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.