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2023/08/28 - Mayor's Column: Utility Rates

“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
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As most people are aware, prices are increasing on just about everything.  Here in the City of O’Fallon we have been fighting to keep taxes and other fees down by making improvements in many ways that the city operates.  We even froze our water and sewer rates twice in the last six years, which has resulted in a total savings per year of about $1 million for our water and sewer users.

But even the City of O’Fallon is not exempt from inflation and increasing costs. We are seeing a significant increase in both the cost for work that we are doing to install new water & sewer lines and also in the cost for the water that we purchase from Illinois American Water.

A couple of examples of the types of increases we have been seeing over the last three years are a 44% increase in the installation of an eight-inch watermain and another is a 36% increase this year alone in our cost to purchase water from Illinois American Water.

So that it does not come as a surprise, I want to let you know that you will see an increase in your combined water and sewer rate of about 4.8% in October.  Assuming that you use about 6,000 gallons of water a month and have a ¾ inch meter, you will see about a $5.90 increase in your monthly bill.

Here is how we will rank cost wise, for 6,000 gallons of water and sewer per month with seven other nearby communities here in St. Clair County (after the increase).

  1. Shiloh……………………$195.51
  2. Belleville……………….. $155.83
  3. Swansea………………… $140.36
  4. O’Fallon…………………. $129.18
  5. Mascoutah…………….. $125.62
  6. Freeburg………………… $124.62
  7. Lebanon…………………. $122.30
  8. Fairview Heights………  $95.68

No one likes to deliver bad news, but you shouldn’t be surprised by this type of increase, and you should be given an explanation.

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.