The Official Quarterly Publication of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri
Spring 2020 • www.ofallon.mo.us
Spring brings opportunity to O’Fallon Be counted in the 2020 Census The United States Constitution requires that the Federal government accurately count each and every resident of this country every 10 years, but did you know the Census also helps shape your community? Your representation in Congress, the State Legislature and even the City Council are determined by the Census, and the Federal government determines how funds are allocated throughout the country based on Census data. April 1 is Census day, so don’t miss the opportunity to do your civic duty and help shape your City’s future! Be counted in the 2020 Census! Find out more at 2020Census.gov.
In this issue 3
Proposition 1
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Upcoming Events
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Veterans Report Public Assistance
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Roscoe’s Den
9 Renew O’Fallon 10 Police Bulletins 11 CarShield Field Events
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s we move into the wonderful Spring season, it’s an incredibly busy time for our City. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, great kids’ events or even some new adult-oriented fun, you have plenty of options this Spring in O’Fallon. We have Easter-themed egg hunts for kids and adults and our popular Game On event is back on April 24 for kids ages 13 to 18. For you adults, don’t miss Game On – After Dark, where adults 18 and over can relive their youth with video games, inflatable challenges and, of course, the best of the area’s craft breweries. Get all the details on page 4. Also this Spring, we have two very important dates for our community. First, April 1st is United States Census day. This year, it’s easier than ever to stand up and be counted with an online response portal. As our City continues to grow, making sure each and every resident is counted is crucial. Many of the funds we receive from the Federal government are allocated based on our Census. Plus, the Census determines how we’re represented in Congress and at the State level. It only takes five minutes, so please either complete your Census card and mail it back or go online and be counted! On April 7, O’Fallon voters will go to the polls to elect five City Council positions and vote on Proposition 1. Prop 1, which would establish a use tax in the City, benefits our City in several ways. It would bring an estimated $3 million in additional revenue to our City, allowing us to upgrade safety equipment for our Police Officers, improve the safety of our streets and potentially even allow us to hire additional Police Officers. Plus, the use tax helps our local businesses by ensuring that no matter where you buy items, whether in our local retailers or online from out of state, you will pay the exact same in sales tax. Without a use tax in place, shoppers are incentivized to bypass our local retailers and save a few bucks by shopping online to avoid sales tax. I encourage you to research this important issue, check out page 3 of this newsletter for more details and please consider voting for Prop 1. The impact on each resident is minimal, but the benefits for O’Fallon and our business community are huge! On behalf of my family and all of us here at O’Fallon, I hope you have a wonderful Spring and please remember to help keep our City one of the country’s best places to live, work and play by shopping and dining in O’Fallon! Sincerely,
Bill Hennessy, Mayor
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Be an informed voter! Learn about Prop 1 on page 3.
