Albin Co. v. City of Louisville

Opinion of the court by JUDGE NUNN — Affirming. This was a suit by the appellee to recover taxes upon per [897] sonal property of appellant for the years 1895, 1896, and. 1897. The following defenses were presented: First, a traverse denying the authenticity of the tax bills. The city proved the authenticity of the bills by its assessor, and, under the charter, a prima facie case was thus made out, which was not overcome by the defendant. See section 2996, Ky. St., 1903, and City of Louisville v. Johnson, 95 Ky., 254 15 R., 615, 24 S. W., 115. The appellant, by the second paragraph of its answer, averred that it handed in to the city assessor schedules of its property subject to assessment for city falxes for the years 1894, 1895, and 1896, which schedules were brought by the assessor before the board of equalization of the city, and the board rejected the schedules so furnished by the appellant, and arbitrarily fixed the amount of taxes which' the appellant should pay. It is nowhere alleged in the answer, nor in. any pleading, what was the value of this property as contained in these schedules for each of the years: nor is it alleged that these schedules were sworn to before the assessor or one of his assistants, as required by section 2988 ■of the Kentucky Statutes of 1903. The reply denies that any schedule of any kind was handed to the city assessor or to one of his assistants by the appellant, or any one for it, for any of these years. We are of the opinion that the defense on this point was insufficient, but admitting its sufficiency, it appears that appellant never complained to the assessor, but appeared before the board of equalization, upon notice from the board, concerning the tax for 1896 only. The board raised the valuation after hearing the appellant. It is true that appellant claims that it was before the board for the other years, but it did not establish that fact to the satisfaction of the court, nor is it material, [898] since it does not appear that the assessment was increased for either of the other years over the amount fixed by the assessor. Appellant alleged that the action of the board of equalization in fixing the amount of taxes which it should pay on its property “was arbitrary, contrary to the evidence before it, and was entirely unsupported by the 'evidence.” It was not stated in the pleadings in what manner or particular this board was arbitrary, except that it rejected the evidence of appellant and reached its conclusions without any evidence. It may be that the conclusion reached appeared arbitrary to appellant, when In fact it was not arbitrary, but it admits that its •officers appeared before the board and testified. This board bad the right to give such weight to this evidence of appellant’s officials as it deemed proper, and if, upon the whole facts and circumstances presented, it fairly concluded the assessment made was proper, then it was the -duty of appellant to pay the same. The statute confides these questions of value to the board of equalization, and the court has no power to review its conclusions in that respect unless the board has proceeded corruptly or fraudulently, which is not alleged or claimed in this case. It is further claimed by appellant that in fixing the valuations the board of equalization acts as a legislative court, contrary to section 135 of the Constitution, which section Teads as follows: “No courts save those provided for in this Constitution shall be established.” It also refers to the case of Pratt v. Breckinridge (112 Ky., 1, 23 R., 1356, 1858) 65 S. W., 136, for authority to support its contention. The direct point decided in this case was simply that the State.board of contest, composed of three commissioners, was a legislative court, within the meaning of this section of the Constitu [899] tion. In our opinion, this decision does not furnish authority for holding that a mere board of equalization, which passes on the question of value of property listed for taxation, with power to approve, increase, or decrease the-same, is a legislative court. It certainly was not contemplated by the framers of the Constitution to do away with such tribunals, which had never before by any decision, of this court been held to be a judicial tribunal, or vested, with the powers and duties of a court. If the Legislature is powerless under the present Constitution to provide for such a tribunal as a board of equalization, then the whole revenue system of the State, counties, and municipalities, must give way, and hereafter, when a question is made as to the value of property fixed by the assessor for taxing purposes, the only remedy will be to provide for an appeal to the regular courts, and thereby make the judges thereof" the final assessors. In our opinion, such is not. the proper construction of section 135 of the Constitution. Wherefore the judgment of the lower court is affirmed,, with damages. Petition for rehearing by appellant overruled.