Ward 5 resident calls O'Fallon tax and spending "a shell game," urges budget transparency

Doug Gaines, a Ward 5 resident, used the council's public-comment period to press for more budget transparency and to sharply criticize how local governments raise revenue. "This shell game is unconstitutional and illegal. It's straight up theft," he told the council, arguing that rising assessments, bonds and intergovernmental arrangements shift costs to homeowners.

Gaines cited citywide budget figures and trends when asking for more public accountability: he said the council adopted a fiscal-year 2027 budget totaling "over $111,000,000 across all funds" with an operating budget he said is approximately $101,000,000 after interfund transfers, and he said FY26 spending exceeded $108,000,000 with roughly $28,000,000 in the general fund and $33,000,000 in enterprise funds. He urged the council and staff to show "the full picture on every bill and every budget" so residents can judge whether spending matches actual service delivery.