GREENWOOD TWP- According to property tax estimates from the St. Louis County Auditor’s Office, current property owners in Greenwood Township who are seeking to become part of Goodwill Township will see significant increases in their property taxes. And Greenwood officials agreed last week to spread that knowledge through a mailing to residents of that portion of the township.
At the township’s Aug. 11 board meeting, Greenwood Chair Paul Thompson introduced data put together by Brandon Larson, the tax division manager for the auditor’s office. It showed that a seasonal recreational property in the proposed annexed area valued at $700,000 would see a $1,160 increase in the local portion of their property taxes. Larson noted these are rough estimates and do not account for any increases in market value or possible changes in fiscal disparity aid.
The inclusion of the Cook-Orr Heath Care District’s nearly $2 million annual assessment in the Goodwill Township levy is the biggest driver behind the tax increase. The district is a governmental entity formed legislatively in 1988 to support the hospital, care center, and emergency medical services. The district took over control of the hospital and nursing home in 1990. The district is governed by an elected board, one member from each participating governmental unit, which has the authority to levy taxes to support the maintenance of health care services and facilities in the district.
Greenwood Township is not part of the hospital district, despite past efforts by hospital officials and others to convince them to join. The board has consistently declined due to the property tax ramifications.
Thompson spoke with Greenwood Township Attorney Mike Couri, who told Thompson he had never seen an effort to detach a previously annexed portion of a township and annex it to a different township. But St. Louis County has said the change could be made under existing state statute, 379.02, which covers changes in boundaries in townships.
Couri said the township could put together a mailing to highlight the tax implications, and at that point supervisor Lois Roskoski contacted St. Louis County to get estimated tax numbers.
“We don’t get a vote on this annexation,” said Thompson. “But we can influence the decision.”
If the separation is approved, it would reduce the township’s tax base by 15 percent. “So, this would increase local taxes,” Thompson said.
Thompson estimated the cost for a mailing would be less than $500. The board voted unanimously to do a mailing.
Roskoski said if the annexation is approved, they do not have any idea when it would go into effect. The township has already set its 2027 levy.
The public hearing in front of the St. Louis County Board is set for Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. at the Cook Community Center, located at 510 Gopher Dr. Public comment can also be emailed to publiccomments@stlouiscountymn.gov. The county board may or may not make a decision on the annexation request at their meeting, which follows the public hearing.
Township valuations
The current estimated market value (EMV) of properties in Greenwood is $894,471,300, or several times the EMV of the newly-formed Goodwill Township, currently sitting at $207,395,300. The Greenwood parcels proposed for annexation to Goodwill have an EMV of $133,466,800.
The property tax impact on Greenwood residents would be minimal, with an estimated tax increase of $79 on a $700,000 seasonal recreational property.
Current Goodwill residents would see their taxes decrease, an estimated $428 on the hypothetical $700,000 value seasonal property. The parcels under consideration for annexation to Goodwill currently provide $83,239 to Greenwood, based on the 2026 levy.