Fields v. Russell

Opinion by Clogston, C.: The facts are substantially admitted, and upon these facts the plaintiff contends that the board of equalization had no authority or right to raise the assessment of Alma township; second, that plaintiff was entitled to a credit on his assessment of the amount of the incumbrance on the neat cattle; third, that the poor-fund tax of two mills and also the three-mill county road tax levied on the said assessment are both illegal. Section 74, ch. 107, of the tax law, provides for a board of equalization and prescribes its duties, which are that it shall meet on the first Monday in June, and “ proceed to fairly and impartially equalize the valuation of personal property.” There is no provision in said article for the introduction of evidence to the board, or for any hearing. The duty is upon the county commissioners, as a board, to equalize these taxes. It is true the board might proceed — and it would be very proper for it to do so — to hear evidence so as to arrive at an impartial assessment; but the board is not obliged to do so. Counties are divided into commissioner districts, and the board is supposed to know the value of property in the county; and when the commissioners meet as a board and find that some townships have been assessed at a higher rate than others, it is the duty of the board, under this law, to equalize these assessments. Of course [722] when it comes to individual assessments, on the complaint of an individual, the board might also do this without proof, or might do it after hearing and proof. The second complaint urged presents a more difficult problem for solution. The tax law is based upon what is supposed to be an equitable adjustment, so that in the end property may bear its just proportion of taxes. "While this is the object, yet there must of necessity be many cases where injustice is done. Property ought not to bear a double assessment; it ought to appear only once in the same year on the tax-rolls, in any form. Where property, as is this case, is held by a mortgagor in possession, both the property so incumbered and the indebtedness appear upon the tax-rolls, and this is one of the cases where the tax law seems to be unjust; but as long as property is assessed and taxes collected thereon, there must be some general rules for the government of such proceedings. If only the equity of the party holding the property should be taxed, it would lead to endless trouble, expense and litigation. The property may be traced and all put upon the tax-roll, but when it comes to the indebtedness thereon it would be almost impossible to reach and ascertain its amount and extent. If it is sought to include liens and indebtedness on property, then it must include those that are not of record as well as those that are. The plaintiff was the owner of this property; he was in possession of it; and while he had created a lien thereon, which for the purpose of a lien transferred the legal title to the mortgagee, yet this property, under our rules of taxation, was subject to taxation. While as we said, it seems to work a hardship, yet we think the assessment valid. Counsel say in their brief that the poor-tax was illegal; yet no reason is assigned why this tax is illegal, and no authorities are cited. Section 35 of ch. 79, Comp. Laws of 1885, gives the county commissioners ample authority to make this levy, and as our attention has not been called to anything in conflict with this section, we must hold that tax valid. The same may also be said of the road tax. Section 21, ch. [723] 89, of the road law, provides that the county commissioners may annually levy a road tax, not exceeding three mills on the dollar. Counsel suggest no reason why this tax is void. Both of these taxes must be upheld, and for the foregoing reasons we recommend that the judgment of the court below be affirmed. By the Court: It is so ordered. All the Justices concurring.