[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6186864,"mediaKeyId","5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a","parentId",5073936,"title","Finance committee approves quarterly budget report and authorizes transfers for FY25","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",472000,"endMs",660000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a&start=472&end=660","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a/thumbnail_472000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6186864/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/Finance-committee-approves-quarterly-budget-report-and-authorizes-transfers-for-FY25","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186864-d02facc30e49775ebe860162c1519fc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194525&Signature=VAc9CzSHTdDFJ34HPCLfyVHtK3E9GXKfQ--gdG037fsyV9Usi5QbXyp14AWpzYSnYgCX5S4eY4bkaaIA4wEbO0HVBnUVmcd~K2rcxIKkpQmE2VXhG5KPzyez4PPpI6Q9dR~-kI6PCsTaepPsPCTnJAGvkR0SnRMI4kFQRcc7QhQQYqIi63iYUzT250gEvc6YHwrUCsyZcMhy6SsPwujfYFGBuw1fc2xJ9uPS7rJt0yyOkOux6~w~oNYfbLPcwsuHrzc2m~aYa6ZXlDsUwi1FqkbO5D0yRdD-fMryyG~P93tYcKDVnLSzRFkSk9SnWWpAJGNezVfOOhv6UtidaPd1Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council if O'Fallon, IL","date","2025-06-24T12:22:35Z","article","O'Fallon — The Finance Committee approved the quarterly budget actual report through March 31, 2025, and passed a resolution authorizing transfers from reserves and budget amendments for major funds with expenditures exceeding budgeted amounts for fiscal year 2025.

Sandy presented the quarterly report and explained that variances can result from timing of journal entries and project start/stop dates; she said revenues often cover the overages but the auditor's review for required supplemental information examines expenditures only. \"This does not take into account any excess revenues we have to cover those. For the audit, it's strictly looking at only the expenditures,\" Sandy said.

The committee approved the quarterly budget actual report and then voted on a resolution that auditors require to note major funds that spent more than their budget. A roll call recorded votes of approval by Nathan Parchment, Jim Campbell, Todd Roach, Jessica Lott and Jim Blackburn for the resolution. The committee also approved the quarterly report earlier in the meeting by unanimous roll call.

A member of the public, Ron Zillms (Ward 6), asked whether a roughly $1.1 million Social Security line reflected an actual need to shift funds for salaries or simply an underbudget. Sandy said the number was an underestimate in budgeting rather than additional payroll beyond the budgeted salary base. \"It's strictly an underestimate on the social security,\" Sandy said.

Committee members noted that the process of reviewing funds and preparing amendments is an annual routine intended to avoid audit comments. The motions to approve the quarterly report and to authorize transfers and amendments both passed; staff will forward the approved documents to the full council and incorporate the amendments into the audit-required supplemental information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee Meetings - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved the quarterly budget actual report through March 31, 2025, and a resolution transferring reserves and amending budgets for major funds that exceeded expenditures, a routine audit-related action.","taxTitle","O'Fallon City, St. Clair County, Illinois","taxId",52736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186869,"City finance staff: disabled-veteran property exemption not driving multiplier increase",299,1518000,1817000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a&start=1518&end=1817","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a/thumbnail_1518000.jpg","/articles/6186869/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/City-finance-staff-disabled-veteran-property-exemption-not-driving-multiplier-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186869-8693b2e20c2ed4ad7274282ff5554791/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194525&Signature=DHPj7ShZRX1yxBGbtJ1Hn07QLh2B4~rk0snjQinF8SeC4P7iJUH7JujEKV8R1MOskx9TTWJOGveBukyJVMc-jKLMk6GSOJW7B-cidag9NkssF7VoVRvugQfLOGEKoPkk161f-kh7N9IHiKPA0zG4Daifx0isqX6M006A6-ffQMejrpUOzObLx4Ig9WCO6ouVzQxsPdnmSlJiGcJw0-1DaJlJMwqlWPVGPE5FlOYT40p9gYlCta0onazL1vqVCXVl7ahX6PJr4t3AzZgjCvHoZxZYCPImSEir1Dytgf-MNKEjhUp8xk9g84n6j8gsXsJmMPalMLJ57MXVJnagc4KYlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","O'Fallon — City finance staff told the Finance Committee that the increase in the property-tax multiplier is not caused by the disabled-veteran exemption but by market-driven changes in assessed values and a three-year sales ratio study.

Sandy told the committee she consulted the county assessor and the state assessor’s office and concluded the disabled-veteran exemption does not directly affect the multiplier calculation. \"The disabled vet exemption has no direct effect to that,\" she said. The multiplier is computed from a multi-year sales-ratio study comparing assessor values to recent sale prices; shifting market prices that outpace assessor values can push the multiplier higher.

Sandy explained the three-year window used to compute the multiplier: the 2024 multiplier uses 2022, 2023 and 2024 sales data; the 2026 multiplier will use 2023–2025. She said the county assessor will provide sales ratio numbers for local review; staff will monitor those figures because some neighborhood entries in the assessor's rolls appeared inconsistent with local market observations.

The committee did not act; the item was an informational follow-up. A member of the public (identified as Vermaire, Ward 3) asked for clarification about which years are included in the multiplier calculation; Sandy confirmed the three-year spans described above.","Sandy explained that the increase in the city’s tax multiplier is driven by a three-year sales-ratio study and market sales prices, not the disabled-veteran exemption; staff will monitor assessor data.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186874,"O'Fallon delays implementation of video-gaming \"push\" tax while state guidance remains limited",154,1836000,1990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a&start=1836&end=1990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a/thumbnail_1836000.jpg","/articles/6186874/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/OFallon-delays-implementation-of-video-gaming-push-tax-while-state-guidance-remains-limited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186874-b7210c8ad1bda88f3de815961ecf1214/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194525&Signature=KyGZUtz99kQSm7Hj2y7cLY5F0ZDTCNC-uyhfswYLZ0qXVgriKlYK-gfywvRipOcITDEqBYaJNV1RyvNjtNlh9yC9rLxmKWrd7LIH7cCO3tnYpNpVHAvtvIoGrlJ982ttKFq7a4~pmJl6U7K9YEVctLwdLsrzH40ayu1r2ZOF1WGnaMqjiwi~O4wYMoj~Wx6G-TN3EBlB8Zgc7fKmx-n0GzgcUtG2pIw6RwUY34OXnKf-9YV~rST4~jbw-xYPvXLL914DBNP3t-1qIRBwzvGcOEOyonc7haoz7wFUofeB8iC-nmlmP-jL5mO97Go4bzRe2KAa688~RpqaQkHPUrMsuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","O'Fallon — The Finance Committee reported that implementation of a local per-play \"push\" tax on video gaming machines remains on hold after the Illinois Gaming Board declined to provide guidance on how to collect the levy.

Sandy, city finance staff, told the committee the ordinance authorizing the tax was passed in October 2021 but implementation was delayed while lawsuits between municipalities and gaming operators were pending. Recent court rulings favored municipalities, but the Illinois Gaming Board told the Illinois Municipal League (IML) it would not provide technical guidance for implementation or enforcement.

\"They do not have any obligation or jurisdiction under the act to participate in the implementation or enforcement,\" Sandy said, summarizing the Gaming Board's response to IML. The city and IML are developing a plan B for implementation; at present, Sandy said officials do not know how much revenue the tax will generate. Staff estimated a preliminary figure \"around $100,000, maybe,\" and emphasized the estimate is uncertain.

The tax is calculated by the number of \"pushes\" on a gaming machine (each button press is a push) and is collected as a small per-push fee. Sandy said machine-level reporting and cooperation from gaming operators will be required; the Gaming Board declined to provide standardized technical instructions. IML is working with municipalities to produce implementation guidance and the city will await those recommendations before taking further steps.

No vote was taken; the committee received the update and will revisit implementation once the city and IML have clearer guidance.","The ordinance authorizing a per-play \"push\" tax on video gaming machines remains on hold after the Illinois Gaming Board declined to provide implementation guidance; the city expects limited revenue and awaits IML guidance.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186879,"O'Fallon council retains 1% grocery sales tax; Roach votes no",774,733000,1507000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a&start=733&end=1507","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5073936-d85633a8a82cd6bb2e36b41a9042083a/thumbnail_733000.jpg","/articles/6186879/OFallon-City/St-Clair-County/Illinois/OFallon-council-retains-1-grocery-sales-tax-Roach-votes-no","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186879-7dcea55a48da9b0d02991afdbeb1dc1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194525&Signature=Rwqx2Tn5dbSXTDk0eZ-mHy0hMPurmAogxGb0eekTfnF-RloYBQ5HRcyc29nPantZQMr78T6psXiDNg4rErEMkLZIH3J~50YtasnXbgkoNwNqRhmp5jOjm-R6~RqNs9C0XjBW3IzanJy1c7zCqg7pr~u1NKnEACxR9wa3WRv~lgJktUjLsQPweC~MY~BibhOTk0T4ShyRXxgWTgjic2QsUwbjgC~A0SQF0vO1kYXcuxwxug-amoVGvbiQ5DlztWc8YJpwoFmP50f~K6AH5h-jOoYKiMmVC9bLUAGTcqFknVz~7QByfH3Q6X8uIDzA6sXoREM7Nd89c8WUUzNvPgYl9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","O'Fallon — The City Council voted to retain a 1% grocery sales tax that the state is repealing effective Jan. 1, 2026, preserving roughly $1.2 million a year for the city’s general fund.

Councilmember Jessica Lott and other supporters said the tax funds public safety and local projects; Councilmember Todd Roach said he opposed adding the tax burden on necessities. The ordinance passed on a 4-1 roll call vote.

The ordinance would continue the current 1% grocery tax under the city’s home-rule authority after the state repeal takes effect. Sandy, city finance staff, told the committee the state’s public act removes the statewide grocery tax but allows local governments to retain a local grocery tax; she said the city’s estimate of the annual revenue from retaining the tax is about $1,200,000. \"This is not a new tax,\" Sandy said, noting residents would pay the same amount on a grocery bill if the city retains the tax.

Supporters said the revenue is key to the city’s general fund. \"We will collect about $10,000,000 in sales tax in the general fund, and the police department alone costs $9,000,000,\" Councilmember Jessica Lott said, adding she supported rolling over the existing grocery tax to avoid cuts. Opponents argued the levy disproportionately affects low-income households. \"It's hurting those families that are most in need,\" Councilmember Todd Roach said. \"I would be adamantly opposed.\"

Sandy added that residents who receive SNAP or other assistance programs are already exempt from the grocery tax. She also said surrounding municipalities — including Belleville, Fairview Heights, Shiloh, Collinsville, Edwardsville and Lebanon — have elected to retain the tax. The city must submit ordinances to the Illinois Department of Revenue by Oct. 1 for a smooth transition by Jan. 1, Sandy said.

On a roll call after a motion, the votes were: Nathan Parchment, yes; Jim Campbell, yes; Todd Roach, no; Jessica Lott, yes; Jim Blackburn, yes. The motion passed and the ordinance will move forward for final adoption and filing with the Department of Revenue.

The council and staff discussed alternatives to the grocery tax, including raising the general sales tax in quarter-percent increments and other revenue options such as a streaming (amusement) tax. Sandy said prior reviews found other revenue sources would not make up the roughly $1.2 million shortfall the grocery tax covers. Councilmembers noted the filing deadline and the potential annual revenue loss if the city did not retain the tax.

The city’s estimate and related figures were presented as estimates; Sandy said the state does not separately report grocery tax receipts and the $1.2 million figure is an approximation based on local store sales data.","The O'Fallon council voted to retain a 1% grocery sales tax that the state will repeal January 1, 2026. Councilmember Todd Roach dissented; supporters said the revenue funds public safety and local projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance committee approves quarterly budget report and authorizes transfers for FY25

City finance staff: disabled-veteran property exemption not driving multiplier increase

O'Fallon delays implementation of video-gaming "push" tax while state guidance remains limited

O'Fallon council retains 1% grocery sales tax; Roach votes no