Coles-Cumberland Professional Development Corp. v. Department of Revenue

JUSTICE McCULLOUGH delivered the opinion of the court: The Illinois Department of Revenue (Department) appeals from an order of the circuit court of Coles County reversing on administrative review a decision of the Department that a 1.465-acre parcel of real estate leased to Lincolnland Home Care Foundation, Inc. (Lincolnland), a not-for-profit corporation, by Coles-Cumberland Professional Development Corporation (Coles-Cumberland), a for-profit corporation, was not entitled to a real estate taxation charitable exemption for the 1991 assessment year. The issues are whether (1) real estate leased for profit by a for-profit corporation is not entitled to a charitable exemption and (2) improvements constructed on the subject real estate by a charitable organization are not exempt from real estate taxation. We reverse and reinstate the Department’s decision. It is undisputed that Lincolnland is a charitable organization. Lincolnland began construction on the premises in December 1990 and occupied the building on June 8, 1991. The building is part two-story, part one-story, encompasses about 8,994 square feet of internal space, and cost approximately $843,000 to construct. Most of the remainder of the parcel is used for parking. It is also undisputed that, during 1991, the property was in the actual process of development for exempt use or was actually used for charitable purposes, and that the parking lot was used exclusively for the charitable purpose of Lincolnland. Although no evidence of the zoning ordinances of the City of Charleston, Illinois, was presented, it was represented to the Department by Lincolnland’s attorney that the reason a 99-year lease was employed in this case, rather than the sale of a fee, was that the parcel was located within a planned unit development owned by Coles-Cumberland, transfer of a fee would subject the parcel to Charleston’s subdivision ordinance, and said ordinance would not accommodate a professional building such as Lincolnland constructed. The lease required payment of $45,000 in rent, with an immediate payment of $30,000 and a one-time additional payment of $15,000. Coles-Cumberland had valued the property at $90,000 and considered the $45,000 balance a charitable donation, although the property had been valued for assessment purposes at the time between $55,000 and $60,000. Lincolnland was obligated to pay Coles-Cumberland a monthly maintenance fee of $375 for the upkeep of common areas. After two years, Coles-Cumberland could adjust the maintenance fee as required on a pro rata basis with other tenants occupying premises within the development. Lincolnland was also required to maintain the premises in good repair, purchase casualty and liability insurance, and pay all property taxes. The lease granted Lincolnland the unrestricted right to build and own improvements on the land. Lincolnland was allowed to mortgage these improvements. Upon the termination or expiration of the lease, Lincolnland was permitted, but not required, to remove any improvements it had built. In the event the property was condemned by a public entity, Lincolnland and Coles-Cumberland were to be apportioned separate awards for their respective interests in the improvements and the land. Lincolnland could not assign its leasehold without ColesCumberland’s consent. Coles-Cumberland could sell, subject to the lease, the fee simple title at any time. Lincolnland had the right of first refusal to purchase the property, if Coles-Cumberland decided to sell. The agreed price would be $45,000, less rents paid, plus $1. Such a sale would occur when (1) Coles-Cumberland declared the property available for sale; (2) in the opinion of Coles-Cumberland’s counsel, title could be conveyed without resulting in noncompliance with Charleston’s zoning laws; or (3) Coles-Cumberland notified Lincoln-land of an intent to sell its interest in the premises to another. ColesCumberland retained the right to encumber the fee simple interest, and an amendment to the lease provided that the provisions relating to mortgage of the fee and mortgage of the leasehold were not mutually exclusive. In the event Lincolnland defaulted in its monthly maintenance payments, or in performing any of its other duties under the lease, or filed for bankruptcy, Coles-Cumberland could terminate the lease. If Lincolnland’s improvements were damaged or destroyed, and Lincolnland elected not to repair them, then the lease would terminate. The facts in this case are undisputed. However, we specifically note the absence of any testimony from a person related to ColesCumberland or concerning the nature of Coles-Cumberland’s intentions as to this property. "Where facts are undisputed, a determination of whether property is exempt from taxation is a question of law. (.Harrisburg-Raleigh Airport Authority v. Department of Revenue (1989), 126 Ill. 2d 326, 331.) Thus, the decision as to whether property is exempt 'depends solely upon an application of the appropriate legal standard to the undisputed facts.’ Illinois Central Gulf R.R. Co. v. Department of Local Government Affairs (1983), 95 Ill. 2d 111, 129. 'It is the well settled rule of law in the State of Illinois that all property is subject to taxation, unless exempt by statute, in conformity with the constitutional provisions relating thereto. Taxation is the rule — tax exemption is the exception.’ (Rogers Park Post No. 108 v. Brenza (1956), 8 Ill. 2d 286, 289-90.) 'Provisions granting tax exemptions are to be construed strictly and must come not only within the terms of the statute but also the authority given by the constitution.’ (Rogers Park Post, 8 Ill. 2d at 290.) Courts have no power to create exemption from taxation by judicial construction, and the burden of establishing statutory authority within the limitations of the constitution, for such an exemption rests upon the person asserting it. People ex rel. Cannon v. Southern Illinois Hospital Corp. (1949), 404 Ill. 66, 68, citing Oak Park Club v. Lindheimer (1938), 369 Ill. 462, 465-66. Each individual claim must be determined from the facts presented. (Coyne Electrical School v. Paschen (1957), 12 Ill. 2d 387, 394.) In determining whether property is included within the scope of a tax exemption all facts are to be construed and all debatable questions resolved in favor of taxation. Rogers Park Post, 8 Ill. 2d at 290.” City of Chicago v. Illinois Department of Revenue, 147 Ill. 2d 484, 491-92, 590 N.E.2d 478, 481 (1992). In Springfield Marine Bank v. Property Tax Appeal Board, 44 Ill. 2d 428, 429-30, 256 N.E.2d 334, 335-36 (1970), the Supreme Court of Illinois stated that, although a nonexempt lessee could be taxed where there was an exempt lessor, a nonexempt lessor may be taxed on the full value of the property even when the right to the use of the property was transferred under a 99-year lease to a charitable organization. Property "leased or otherwise used with a view to profit” is not exempt. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 120, par. 500.2. As a result, the appellate court has ruled that property leased from a nonexempt owner and used for religious purposes is not tax exempt. Victory Christian Church v. Department of Revenue, 264 Ill. App. 3d 919, 922-23, 637 N.E.2d 463, 465 (1994); American National Bank & Trust Co. v. Department of Revenue, 242 Ill. App. 3d 716, 724, 611 N.E.2d 32, 37-38 (1993). Both decisions stated that the question of whether the property is being used for profit depends on the intent of the owner. The courts have long recognized that ownership is separate from title in Illinois tax law. Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church v. Department of Revenue, 267 Ill. App. 3d 678, 682, 642 N.E.2d 1344, 1347 (1994). The courts are concerned with the realities of ownership, the key elements of which are control and the right to enjoy the benefits of the property. Chicago Patrolmen’s Ass’n v. Department of Revenue, 171 Ill. 2d 263, 273, 664 N.E.2d 52, 57 (1996). However, in considering the question of ownership, it must be noted this case is distinguishable from a case involving a contract for purchase. See Christian Action Ministry v. Department of Local Government Affairs, 74 Ill. 2d 51, 62, 383 N.E.2d 958, 964 (1978). In this case, the intent of Coles-Cumberland and the determination of the extent of its ownership interest must be gleaned from the lease. Coles-Cumberland has rented the property to Lincolnland for $45,000, plus payments including payment of real estate taxes. The payment of the real estate taxes are part of the rent, and it clearly benefits Coles-Cumberland not to have to pay these expenses. Although the lease contained a provision relating to the possibility of Coles-Cumberland selling the property to Lincolnland, ColesCumberland is not obligated to sell the property and could retain it indefinitely with Lincolnland paying the real estate taxes. The leasehold cannot be assigned without approval from ColesCumberland, which also retained the right to mortgage the fee simple interest. The lease further contains a provision "authorizing” Lincolnland to allow for easements across the land for construction and development of the planned unit development, and easements had been granted. As a result, the development of the parcel enhances Coles-Cumberland’s ownership of the surrounding parcels in the planned unit development. It certainly enhances the value of the fee estate in this particular parcel. Distinguishable from the case at bar is this court’s decision in Cole Hospital, Inc. v. Champaign County Board of Review, 113 Ill. App. 3d 96, 446 N.E.2d 562 (1983). Cole Hospital involved creative financing where the hospital, the owner of the subject real estate, could not obtain traditional financing. The hospital was forced to convey the property, subject to a lease-back arrangement, which provided that the hospital pay all the real estate taxes, maintenance, and insurance costs. It had the absolute option to repurchase the property at 10 times the annual rent at the eleventh and sixteenth anniversary dates, and it had a right of first refusal if the owner received a bona fide offer to purchase. Cole Hospital, 113 Ill. App. 3d at 100, 446 N.E.2d at 564-65. The right to choose when and if the property may be transferred is one of the most significant incidents of ownership. Henderson County Retirement Center, Inc. v. Department of Revenue, 237 Ill. App. 3d 522, 527, 604 N.E.2d 1003, 1006 (1992). In this case, Lincolnland has no power to force the sale of the property. In Wheaton College v. Department of Revenue, 155 Ill. App. 3d 945, 949, 508 N.E.2d 1136, 1138 (1987), cited with approval by the Supreme Court of Illinois in Chicago Patrolmen’s Ass’n, it was determined that a 30-year lease was undertaken primarily for the benefit of the nonexempt owner, and the denial of tax exemption was affirmed. The same result pertains here. The remaining issue is whether the value of the improvements constructed by Lincolnland on the subject parcel should be exempt. In Decatur Sports Foundation v. Department of Revenue, 156 Ill. App. 3d 623, 509 N.E.3d 1103 (1987), this court held that the Department properly denied an exemption for improvements built by a charitable organization where the underlying land was owned by a for-profit organization. This court held that the improvement constituted part of the real property, and thus its value should be assessed against the landowner, which was a noncharitable corporation. In reaching this conclusion, this court relied upon section 1(13) of the Revenue Act of 1939 (Act) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 120, par. 482(13)), which defined real property as including "all buildings, structures and improvements, and other permanent fixtures, of whatsoever kind.” Decatur Sports Foundation, 156 Ill. App. 3d at 628-29, 509 N.E.2d at 1106, citing In re Tax Objections of Hutchens, 34 Ill. App. 3d 1039, 1040, 341 N.E.2d 169, 170 (1976). The decision in Decatur Sports Foundation was discussed by the Supreme Court of Illinois in City of Chicago. There, although considering an exemption under a different section of the Act than was addressed in Decatur Sports Foundation, the decision in City of Chicago stated the justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois were "not convinced” the appropriate analysis was undertaken in Decatur Sports Foundation. City of Chicago, 147 Ill. 2d at 498-99, 590 N.E.2d at 484-85. Thus, the determination of whether Decatur Sports Foundation utilized the proper analysis was left to an appropriate case. This is not such a case, even though this case involves the same exemption as discussed in Decatur Sports Foundation. Although the Supreme Court of Illinois has recognized that a partial or separate exemption may be had where multiple entities share the use or ownership of a parcel (Chicago Patrolmen’s Ass’n, 171 Ill. 2d at 279-80, 664 N.E.2d at 60), neither exists here. Moreover, in Chicago Patrolmen’s Ass’n, the Supreme Court of Illinois expressly distinguished the facts of that case from cases involving leaseholds. Chicago Patrolmen’s Ass’n, 171 Ill. 2d at 277, 664 N.E.2d at 59. In this case, there is no division of use since Lincolnland is the only user of the premises, and there is no division of ownership since Coles-Cumberland is the owner of the real estate for tax purposes. That includes the improvements, even if the reasoning in Decatur Sports Foundation is not employed. It is true that Lincolnland paid for the construction of the improvements. It is also true that the lease provided that Lincoln-land could take the improvements with it at the end of the lease. But there was no testimony that the building and parking lot could be moved. And Lincolnland was "under no obligation to remove or change any buildings or other improvements” at the termination of the lease. There was no provision for Coles-Cumberland to pay Lincolnland anything for the improvements which are not removed on termination of the lease or in the event that Lincolnland defaults on the lease. If the improvements are damaged and Lincolnland fails to repair, restore, or replace them within the appropriate time, (1) insurance proceeds are paid one-half to Lincolnland and one-half to Coles-Cumberland, (2) Coles-Cumberland "shall raze and demolish” them, and (3) the lease will be automatically terminated. In essence, Lincolnland has paid for improvements to the real estate which, realistically, will be left to Coles-Cumberland, although Lincolnland currently has the right to use them. Under the evidence presented in this case, the construction and maintenance of a building on Coles-Cumberland property is part of the rent. In Victory Christian Church, the court indicated that it would be inappropriate to allow "any private property not entitled to exemption to become tax exempt merely by leasing it to” an exempt organization. Victory Christian Church, 264 Ill. App. 3d at 923, 637 N.E.2d at 465. In this case, Lincolnland has not proved sufficient incidents of ownership in the land or the improvements to warrant a tax exemption of the entire premises or any divisible portion of it. The judgment of the circuit court of Coles County is reversed, and the decision of the Department is reinstated. Circuit court reversed; Department decision reinstated. STEIGMANN, J., concurs.