Lane v. Mayor of Unadilla

Gilbert, J. 1. Municipal corporations can levy no tax, general or special, upon the inhabitants of the municipality or upon property, therein, unless the power to do so be plainly and unmistakably conferred upon them by the State. Albany Bottling Co. v. Watson, 103 Ga. 503 (30 S. E. 270); 2 Dill. Mun. Cor. (4th ed.) 763; Cooley on Taxation (2d ed.), 678; Southern Express Co. v. Rose Co., 124 Ga. 581, 588 (53 S. E. 185, 5 L. R. A. (N. S.) 619); State of Georgia v. Southern Express Co., 133 Ga. 113 (65 S. E. 282). The burden is upon every political division of the State, which demands taxes from the people, to show the authority to exercise it in the manner in which it has been imposed. Southern Express Co. v. Rose Co., supra. 2. The Mayor and Council of Unadilla cannot lawfully assess unreturned property within its corporate limits for taxation, without provision for giving notice to the taxpayer, together with opportunity for a hearing, before such assessment shall have been made. Georgia Laws (1910), pp. 27, 29, secs. 8, 9; Park’s Ann. Code, § 1061 (a). If such delinquent refuses to return his property after notice given, the property may be assessed from the best information obtainable as to its value for the years in default, written notice thereof being given to the taxpayer, which assessment shall be final unless the taxpayer, within twenty days after receiving such notice, raises the question that it is excessive, in which event the question of valuation shall be referred to arbitration. Acts 1910, p. 29, sec. 9; Park’s Ann. Code, § 1061(b). Where the tax liability of the property is contested, the [578] property-owner may resort to equity. Park’s Ann. Code, § 1061(c). See Central of Georgia Ry. Co. v. Wright, 207 U. S. 127 (28 Sup. Ct. 47, 52 L. ed. 134, 12 Ann. Cas. 463). No provision of law has been made in the charter of Unadilla for such notice and hearing; and counsel for defendants, on the hearing, admitted “ that there was no return made for taxes for the years 1917, 1918, and 1919; and that no notice was given to plaintiff before the assessment.” The law in this respect was not changed by the act of 1918 (Ga. L. 1918, p. 232). Moreover, notice musí? be provided by law, and not awarded as a mere matter of favor or grace. Therefore the court erred in rendering a judgment refusing the injunction. No. 3202. November 24, 1922. 3. Error was assigned on the judgment refusing an injunction, on other grounds; and also there was an assignment of error on the judgment rendered in favor of the defendant for the amount of taxes adjudged to be due with interest and costs. The judgment as a whole having been reversed on another ground, it follows that the portion of the judgment rendered in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff for the amount of the taxes due is also set aside. None of the other grounds upon which error is assigned on the judgment are of such character as would require a reversal of the judgment, nor are they of such character as to require that they be dealt with in detail. Judgment reversed. All the Justices concur. Arthur H. Codington and Max E: Land, for plaintiff. Watts Powell and Crum & J ones, for defendant.