Thomas & Patricia King v. Hoover (Jasper)

May 21st, 2012

State Tax Commission of Missouri

 

THOMAS M. & PATRICIA G. KING,)

)

Complainants,)

)

v.) Appeal No.11-62502

)

CONNIE HOOVER, ASSESSOR,)

JASPER COUNTY, MISSOURI,)

)

Respondent.)

 

DECISION AND ORDER

 

HOLDING

 

Decision of the Jasper County Board of Equalization reducing the assessment made by the Assessor is SET ASIDE.Complainants presented substantial and persuasive evidence to rebut the presumption of correct assessment by the Board of Equalization.

True value in money for the subject property for tax years 2011 and 2012 is set at $226,600, residential assessed value of $43,050.

Complainant Thomas M. King appeared pro se.

Respondent appeared by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Jeremy Crowley.

Case heard and decided by Senior Hearing Officer W. B. Tichenor.

ISSUE

Complainant appeals, on the ground of overvaluation, the decision of the Jasper County Board of Equalization, which reduced the valuation of the subject property.The Commission takes this appeal to determine the true value in money for the subject property on January 1, 2011.The Hearing Officer, having considered all of the competent evidence upon the whole record, enters the following Decision and Order.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1.Jurisdiction.Jurisdiction over this appeal is proper.Complainant timely appealed to the State Tax Commission from the decision of the Jasper County Board of Equalization.A hearing was conducted on March 13, 2012, at the Jasper County Courthouse, Carthage, Missouri.


2.Subject Property.The subject property is located at 141 Forest Dr., Carl Junction, Missouri.The property is identified by map parcel number 16-2-1-10.002.

3.Assessment.The Assessor appraised the property at $313,630, a residential assessed value of $59,590.[1]The Board of Equalization reduced the value to $297,580, assessed value of $56,540.[2]

4.Complainant’s Evidence.The following exhibits were received into evidence on behalf of Complainants.

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

A

2007 – Change Notice

B

2011 – Change Notice

C

2007 – 3 pages of an Appraisal

D

Appraisal, dated 6/7/11 – $226,600[3]

E

Comparable property – 125 Forest

 

Mr. King testified at hearing that his opinion of value as of January 1, 2011, was $226,600 based upon Exhibit D.

There was no evidence of new construction and improvement from January 1, 2011, to January 1, 2012, therefore the assessed value for 2011 remains the assessed value for 2012.[4]

Complainant’s evidence was substantial and persuasive to rebut the presumption of correct assessment by the Board and establish the true value in money as of January 1, 2011, to be $226,600.

5.Respondent’s Evidence.The following exhibits were received into evidence on behalf of Respondent.

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

1

Property Record Card on Subject

2

Property Record Card on Yates Property

 

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND DECISION

Jurisdiction

The Commission has jurisdiction to hear this appeal and correct any assessment which is shown to be unlawful, unfair, arbitrary or capricious.The hearing officer shall issue a decision and order affirming, modifying or reversing the determination of the board of equalization, and correcting any assessment which is unlawful, unfair, improper, arbitrary, or capricious.[5]

Basis of Assessment

The Constitution mandates that real property and tangible personal property be assessed at its value or such percentage of its value as may be fixed by law for each class and for each subclass.[6]The constitutional mandate is to find the true value in money for the property under appeal. By statute real and tangible personal property is assessed at set percentages of true value in money.[7]In an overvaluation appeal, true value in money for the property being appealed must be determined based upon the evidence on the record that is probative on the issue of the fair market value of the property under appeal.

Presumption In Appeals

There is a presumption of validity, good faith and correctness of assessment by the County Board of Equalization.[8]This presumption is a rebuttable rather than a conclusive presumption.It places the burden of going forward with some substantial evidence on the taxpayer – Complainant.When some substantial evidence is produced by the Complainant, “however slight”, the presumption disappears and the Hearing Officer, as trier of facts, receives the issue free of the presumption.[9]The presumption of correct assessment is rebutted when the taxpayer presents substantial and persuasive evidence to establish that the Board’s valuation is erroneous and what the fair market value should have been placed on the property.[10]Complainants’ evidence (Exhibit D) constituted substantial and persuasive evidence to establish that the Board’s assessment was erroneous and what the fair market value should have been for the property as of January 1, 2012.

Standard for Valuation

Section 137.115, RSMo, requires that property be assessed based upon its true value in money which is defined as the price a property would bring when offered for sale by one willing or desirous to sell and bought by one who is willing or desirous to purchase but who is not compelled to do so.[11]True value in money is defined in terms of value in exchange and not value in use.[12]It is the fair market value of the subject property on the valuation date.[13]Market value is the most probable price in terms of money which a property should bring in competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller, each acting prudently, knowledgeable and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus.

Implicit in this definition are the consummation of a sale as of a specific date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby:

1.Buyer and seller are typically motivated.

 

2.Both parties are well informed and well advised, and both acting in what they consider their own best interests.

 

3.A reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market.

 

4.Payment is made in cash or its equivalent.

 

5.Financing, if any, is on terms generally available in the Community at the specified date and typical for the property type in its locale.

 

6.The price represents a normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special financing amounts and/or terms, services, fees, costs, or credits incurred in the transaction.[14]

 

The conclusion of value presented in Exhibit D was made under the Standard For Valuation.[15]

Methods of Valuation

Proper methods of valuation and assessment of property are delegated to the Commission.It is within the purview of the Hearing Officer to determine the method of valuation to be adopted in a given case.[16]Missouri courts have approved the comparable sales or market approach, the cost approach and the income approach as recognized methods of arriving at fair market value.[17]Complainant’s presented an opinion of value derived from the sales comparison approach to valuation.

Complainants Prove Value of $226,600


In order to prevail, Complainants must present an opinion of market value and substantial and persuasive evidence that the proposed value is indicative of the market value of the subject property on January 1, 2011.[18]There is no presumption that the taxpayer’s opinion is correct. The taxpayer in a Commission appeal still bears the burden of proof.The taxpayer is the moving party seeking affirmative relief.Therefore, the Complainants bear the burden of proving the vital elements of the case, i.e., the assessment was “unlawful, unfair, improper, arbitrary or capricious.”[19]A valuation which does not reflect the fair market value (true value in money) of the property under appeal is an unlawful, unfair and improper assessment.

Substantial evidence can be defined as such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.[20]Persuasive evidence is that evidence which has sufficient weight and probative value to convince the trier of fact.The persuasiveness of evidence does not depend on the quantity or amount thereof but on its effect in inducing belief.[21]

Owner’s Opinion of Value

The owner of property is generally held competent to testify to its reasonable market value.[22]The owner’s opinion in this instance was based upon an appraisal of the subject property.Although the date of the appraisal was June 7, 2011, the four sales that were used to establish the value of $226,600 bracketed the date of 1/1/11 from September 30, 2010, to April 14, 2011.No adjustment for time of sale was made to any of the four sale properties.Therefore, although dated as of 6/7/11, the appraisal provided substantial and persuasive evidence of the value of the property as of January 1, 2011.The owner’s opinion was based upon proper elements and a proper foundation, i.e. the appraisal report.

Complainants met their burden of proof and established fair market value as of January 1, 2011, to be $226,600.


Respondent’s Evidence

The property record card (PRC) of the subject property does not provide evidence to rebut Complainant’s evidence.The mass appraisal cost valuation shown on the PRC is not supported by market data to establish land value.There is no market analysis to establish that the depreciation applied under the cost approach is representative of the market conditions that existed on January 1, 2011.The mass appraisal valuation developed on a PRC is appropriate for mass appraisal, it will hardly ever stand in the face of an actual sales comparison appraisal of the property under appeal.

The PRC on another property does not constitute market data of what the fair market value of the subject was on the valuation date.Exhibit 2 does not constitute an appraisal of the subject property.

Summary and Conclusion

Complainants’ Exhibit D constituted substantial and persuasive evidence to establish true value in money as of January 1, 2011.Once Complainants had established their prima facie case, the burden of persuasion that the appraisal did not reflect fair market value shifted to Respondent.Respondent’s case in chief failed to present evidence to carry that burden of persuasion.

ORDER

The assessed valuation for the subject property as determined by the Board of Equalization for Jasper County for the subject tax day is SET ASIDE.

The assessed value for the subject property for tax years 2011 and 2012 is set at $43,050.

Application for Review

A party may file with the Commission an application for review of this decision within thirty days of the mailing date set forth in the Certificate of Service for this Decision.The application shall contain specific facts or law as grounds upon which it is claimed the decision is erroneous.Said application must be in writing addressed to the State Tax Commission of Missouri, P.O. Box 146, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0146, and a copy of said application must be sent to each person at the address listed below in the certificate of service.

Failure to state specific facts or law upon which the application for review is based will result in summary denial. [23]

Disputed Taxes

The Collector of Jasper County, as well as the collectors of all affected political subdivisions therein, shall continue to hold the disputed taxes pending the possible filing of an Application for Review, unless said taxes have been disbursed pursuant to a court order under the provisions of Section 139.031.8, RSMo.

Any Finding of Fact which is a Conclusion of Law or Decision shall be so deemed.Any Decision which is a Finding of Fact or Conclusion of Law shall be so deemed.

SO ORDERED May 21, 2012.

STATE TAX COMMISSION OF MISSOURI

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W. B. Tichenor

Senior Hearing Officer


Certificate of Service

 

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing has been mailed postage prepaid on this 21st day of May, 2012, to:Thomas King, 141 Forest Drive, Carl Junction, MO 64834, Complainant; Jeremy Crowley, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 601 Pearl, Room 100, Joplin, MO 64801, Attorney for Respondent; Connie Hoover, Assessor, 302 S. Main Street, Carthage, MO 64836; Bonnie Earl, Clerk; Stephen Holt, Collector, Jasper County Courthouse, Carthage, MO 64836.

_____________________________

Barbara Heller

Legal Coordinator

 

Contact Information for State Tax Commission:

Missouri State Tax Commission

301 W. High Street, Room 840

P.O. Box 146

Jefferson City, MO 65102-0146

573-751-2414

573-751-1341 Fax

 

 

 


[1] BOE Decision Letter dated 8/12/11, attached to Complaint for Review of Assessment.Residential property is assessed at 19% of its appraised value (true value in money, fair market value) – Section 137.115.5, RSMo

 

[2] BOE Decision Letter, dated 8/12/11

 

[3] Complainant’s had submitted a copy of the entire 6/7/11 Appraisal Report with the Complaint for Review of Assessment.At Hearing the document market as Exhibit D was only 1 page of the appraisal.There was no objection to the receiving into evidence of the appraisal.Exhibit D consists of the entire appraisal submitted with the Complaint for Review of Assessment.

 

[4] Section 137.115.1, RSMo.

 

[5] Article X, Section 14, Mo. Const. of 1945; Sections 138.430, 138.431, 138.431.4, RSMo.

 

[6] Article X, Sections 4(a) and 4(b), Mo. Const. of 1945

 

[7] Section 137.115.5, RSMo

 

[8] Hermel, Inc. v. STC, 564 S.W.2d 888, 895 (Mo. banc 1978); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. v. STC, 436 S.W.2d 650, 656 (Mo. 1968); May Department Stores Co. v. STC, 308 S.W.2d 748, 759 (Mo. 1958)

 

[9] United Missouri Bank of Kansas City v. March, 650 S.W.2d 678, 680-81 (Mo. App. 1983), citing to State ex rel. Christian v. Lawry, 405 S.W.2d 729, 730 (Mo. App. 1966) and cases therein cited.

 

[10] Hermel, supra; Cupples-Hesse Corporation v. State Tax Commission, 329 S.W.2d 696, 702 (Mo. 1959)

 

[11] St. Joe Minerals Corp. v. State Tax Commission, 854 S.W.2d 526, 529 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993); Missouri Baptist Children’s Home v. State Tax Commission, 867 S.W.2d 510, 512 (Mo. banc 1993).

 

[12] Daly v. P. D. George Company, et al, 77 S.W.3d 645, 649 (Mo. App E.D. 2002), citing, Equitable Life Assurance Society v. STC, 852 S.W.2d 376, 380 (Mo. App. 1993); citing, Stephen & Stephen Properties, Inc. v. STC, 499 S.W.2d 798, 801-803 (Mo. 1973).

 

[13] Hermel, supra.

 

[14] Real Estate Appraisal Terminology, Society of Real Estate Appraisers, Revised Edition, 1984; See also, Real Estate Valuation in Litigation, J. D. Eaton, M.A.I., American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, 1982, pp. 4-5; Property Appraisal and Assessment Administration, International Association of Assessing Officers, 1990, pp. 79-80; Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, Glossary.

 

[15] Exhibit D – Definition of Market Value, p. 3

 

[16] See, Nance v. STC, 18 S.W.3d 611, at 615 (Mo. App. W.D. 2000); Hermel, supra;Xerox Corp. v. STC, 529 S.W.2d 413 (Mo. banc 1975).

 

[17] St. Joe Minerals Corp. v. STC, 854 S.W.2d 526, 529 (App. E.D. 1993); Aspenhof Corp. v. STC, 789 S.W.2d 867, 869 (App. E.D. 1990); Quincy Soybean Company, Inc., v. Lowe, 773 S.W.2d 503, 504 (App. E.D. 1989), citing Del-Mar Redevelopment Corp v. Associated Garages, Inc., 726 S.W.2d 866, 869 (App. E.D. 1987); and State ex rel. State Highway Comm’n v. Southern Dev. Co., 509 S.W.2d 18, 27 (Mo. Div. 2 1974).

 

[18] Hermel, supra.

 

[19] See, Westwood Partnership v. Gogarty, 103 S.W.3d 152 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003); Daly v. P. D. George Co., 77 S.W.3d 645 (Mo. App. E.D. 2002); Reeves v. Snider, 115 S.W.3d 375 (Mo. App. S.D. 2003).Industrial Development Authority of Kansas City v. State Tax Commission of Missouri, 804 S.W.2d 387, 392 (Mo. App. 1991).

 

[20] See, Cupples-Hesse, supra.

 

[21] Brooks v. General Motors Assembly Division, 527 S.W.2d 50, 53 (Mo. App. 1975).

 

[22] Rigali v. Kensington Place Homeowners’ Ass’n, 103 S.W.3d 839, 846 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003); Boten v. Brecklein, 452 S.W.2d 86, 95 (Sup. 1970).

 

[23] Section 138.432, RSMo.