On Tuesday, August 28, 2017, the City of Ballwin presented a map plan to the St. Louis County Boundary Commission at a public hearing. Submitting this plan does not obligate the City to annex all or any of the included areas, but without a submitted map the City cannot pursue any annexation possibilities during the proposal period of the five-year planning cycle wherein municipalities can bring forward requests for annexation to the Saint Louis County Boundary Commission. Residents can view this map online. 

Over the past several years, Ballwin has received an unprecedented number of inquiries about the possibility of annexing various parts of unincorporated St. Louis County near our boundary lines, and we recognize these inquiries to be a positive sign. They show that our community is doing something right. Our residents consistently tell us how Ballwin is a great place to live and raise a family, and it seems that the rest of the region is taking notice.

While growth can be exciting, there are many logistical aspects to consider before Ballwin can move forward with any annexation plans and many questions which need to be answered.

Cost vs. Benefit

Using the 2018 Comprehensive Plan for reference has been a great resource to the annexation process. Within, there is an in-depth cost-benefit analysis of various annexation scenarios and possibilities. These analyses are paramount to ensure that any annexation refrains from negatively impacting any of our current and valued residents. It is not Ballwin's intention to annex new areas simply for sake of growth. For this reason, residents can continue to rest assured that there are no tax increases scheduled with the possibility of annexation. Ballwin has boasted a $0.00 property tax for the last 30 years and we have no plans to increase this rate for the sake of annexation.

The Ballwin post office covers a larger portion than our city limits which leaves many residents with the belief they live in the City of Ballwin when they live in unincorporated St. Louis County. The best way to check if you’re a Ballwin resident is to look at your gas, sewer, water, or electric bill. A small utility tax is indicated and will specify which entity receives that tax, we recommend that all residents check to see if it states City of Ballwin, and this will provide you proper information as to your municipality. If you still have questions or are unsure, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email and we can always help provide you accurate information.

What’s in it for Ballwin?

A small utility tax and pool sales tax in the annexed area would mean increased revenue for the City, allowing us to provide more of the services our residents currently enjoy.

Current residents would not incur any negative impact to their services. In fact, with a larger population and increased revenue, residents would likely notice a positive change to their services and possibly an expansion of Ballwin parks and amenities.

When you’re part of something good, you want to share it with others. Ballwin believes in offering great service and we’re excited to potentially offer that service to more people in the future.

What’s Next?

The City of Ballwin's Map Plan detailing our proposal for annexations was approved on April 15, 2019, and the timeline for proposals continues until July 1, 2022. Unfortunately, the annexation process is not a quick one; after July 1, 2022, if a proposal has not been received by the Saint Louis County Boundary Commission, it will be required to wait until the following five-year planning cycle's proposal period, which is expected to begin in mid-2025, and will only be able to be proposed if it continue to fall within the City's Map Plan for that planning cycle.

Much of the land directly to the south of Ballwin is unincorporated Saint Louis County and falls under our current Map Plan. If your subdivision is interested in becoming a part of Ballwin and currently shares a boundary with us, please feel free to reach out to our City Planner, Lynn Sprick, regarding any questions you may have on the process or to set up a meeting with homeowners. He can be reached at 636-227-2243 or .

Learn more about the annexation process by visiting the STL Boundary Commission's website.