The Walker Record

Fiscal Responsibility

As Mayor, Brant Walker froze the city’s property tax levy for the last four years of his administration to ease the burden on homeowners and businesses and to encourage investment in Alton. He also maintained balanced budgets during every year in office and addressed the city’s unfunded pension liability that was deterring growth and preventing investment in our parks and infrastructure.

Public Safety

As Mayor, Brant Walker directed the Alton Police Department to implement community-based policing policies that reduced crime and led to increased cooperation and stronger relationships with the public. His administration also implemented an ambulance service operated by the Alton Fire Department that resulted in the AFD achieving an ISO rating of 2, leading to decreased insurance costs for many businesses and homeowners.

Economic Development

To spur investment in Alton, Brant Walker expanded an innovative business retention program, implemented a retail recruitment strategy, and utilized local incentives to aid in business creation and expansion. As a result, Alton experienced more than $116 million in private capital investment, issued a record number of business licenses, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, had the lowest unemployment rate in decades.

Infrastructure Investment

Brant Walker’s administration obtained more than $4 million dollars for grant funded infrastructure projects in addition to regular Motor Fuel Tax improvements to improve our aging streets and sidewalks. Brant’s administration also made more than $6 million in grant funded improvements to our city’s parks to improve and expand recreational opportunities for Alton residents.

Housing and Building & Zoning

Affordable homeownership was a staple of the Walker Administration’s revitalization efforts. During Brant’s administration, the City’s HOMEownership Program assisted 189 families in achieving the dream of homeownership while expending over $560K in down payment and closing cost assistance. As Mayor, Brant also implemented a crime free housing and landlord licensing ordinance and strengthened the City’s code enforcement unit to combat derelict properties and protect the property values of our citizens.

National Recognition

During Brant Walker’s administration, Alton was nationally recognized as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The Travel Channel named Alton as one of the top 50 “Charming Small Towns in America,” Forbes Magazine named Alton “the best place to retire in Illinois,” and the AARP named Alton as one of the “Top 10 Places to Live” in Illinois for seniors. The City of Alton also won season three of Deluxe’s “Small Business Revolution.”