Annexation - What are the benefits to annexation and how is it done?

To continue to grow, the City will need to expand its boundaries to include previously unincorporated properties. The haphazard annexation of territory without a plan can lead to inefficient service delivery, thereby causing residents to pay more for the services they receive. It is vital for any annexation to be in the best interest of both the City and the property owner. O'Fallon thinks it is more beneficial to all if annexation, like any growth, is accomplished according to a well-conceived plan. The City desires to annex those future areas it can efficiently and naturally service.

Because of the demand to locate in O'Fallon, the City may choose to annex areas of potential growth. O'Fallon believes that if not today, then sometime in the future, we may be expected to provide services to the residents within the area. However, being able to effectively plan for those services is often limited by our current boundaries.

Unincorporated residents annexing to O'Fallon will receive comprehensive police protection, substantially lower water rates, and street maintenance in exchange for paying City taxes. The decrease in water rates and possibly home insurance, along with increased services, will most likely offset any new property taxes.

In some cases annexation is contingent on the property owners and the City agreeing to certain terms or conditions. Issues could be the time schedule of providing water or sewer, certain zoning classification of property, or proposed development plans.

Sometimes, the City may enter into pre-annexation agreements with property owners that may not be annexed for some time. These agreements, which are binding for twenty (20) years, is a commitment between both the City and the property owner to annexation according to agreed upon terms.

After the City and property owner agree to all terms, the City Council will review and adopt an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreement. At this point, the property owner will either annex or the agreement will be recorded with the County and used when the property becomes contiguous to the City limits.

For a closer look at annexation, click here.