SF 2689

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to local government; authorizing establishment of the White Community
Hospital District; authorizing hospital district to levy property taxes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin WHITE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authorized. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding the contiguity requirement in
Minnesota Statutes, section 447.31, subdivision 2, any two or more of the following cities
and towns in St. Louis County may establish by resolution of their respective governing
bodies the White Community Hospital District: the cities of Aurora, Biwabik, and Hoyt
Lakes, and the towns of Biwabik, White, and Colvin.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Powers; may make grants. new text end

new text begin (a) Except as otherwise provided in this
section, the White Community Hospital District shall be organized and have the powers
and duties provided in Minnesota Statutes, sections 447.31, except subdivisions 2, 5, and
6; 447.32, subdivisions 5, 7, and 9; 447.345; 447.37; and 447.38.
new text end

new text begin (b) The hospital district may levy taxes as provided in this section to provide funding
to make grants to the White Community Hospital and any affiliated health care facility or
provider for any purpose authorized for hospital districts in Minnesota Statutes, sections
447.31 to 447.38, except 447.331.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Annexation; detachment. new text end

new text begin Once the hospital district is established, any
other city, town, or unorganized area in St. Louis County may join the hospital district
in the same manner provided in subdivision 1 for establishment of the hospital district.
A city, town, or unorganized area that is a member of the hospital district may detach
from the district in the same manner as it may join. An annexation to or detachment
from the hospital district is effective for taxes payable in the following calendar year if
the resolution is adopted, or in the case of an unorganized area the petition submitted
to the county auditor, before July 1 of the levy year. A resolution adopted or petition
submitted after July 1 of any year is effective for the taxes payable the year following
the next levy year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Unorganized areas. new text end

new text begin An unorganized area in St. Louis County shall
become a member of the hospital district if at least 51 percent of the residents of the
unorganized area signed a petition submitted to the hospital district board and the county
auditor requesting to participate in the hospital district.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Hospital district board. new text end

new text begin The hospital district shall be governed by a
hospital board composed of one member of each participating city and town's governing
body, appointed by the governing body. If the hospital district only has two members,
each member city or town shall appoint two board members. The hospital district board
must appoint from among its members a chair, clerk, treasurer, and any other officers the
board deems necessary or useful. The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners shall
appoint a resident of any unorganized area that is participating in the hospital district. All
board members serve at the pleasure of the respective appointing authorities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin No compensation; expenses. new text end

new text begin Board members shall serve without
compensation but shall be eligible for per diem and expenses provided by, and at the
discretion of, their respective appointing authorities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Operating tax levy. new text end

new text begin The hospital district board may levy a tax as
provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 447.34, except as provided in this subdivision.
If the hospital district board levies it must be a uniform tax rate levied against the net
tax capacity of all taxable properties located within each participating city, town, or
unorganized area. The maximum amount that may be levied in the hospital district must
not exceed 0.066088 percent of the fully taxable market value of all taxable properties
located within each participating city, town, or unorganized area.
new text end

new text begin Any tax levied by the hospital district is in addition to all other taxes levied on the
property, including taxes levied for any other hospital purpose by a participating city
or town. The levy must be disregarded in the calculation of all other rate or per capita
levy limitations imposed by law.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; NO LOCAL APPROVAL. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the
day following final enactment without local approval under Minnesota Statutes, section
645.023, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), for taxes levied in 2008, payable in 2009, and
thereafter.
new text end