Wayne & Barbara Bell v. Shipman (St. Charles)

May 4th, 2012

State Tax Commission of Missouri

 

WAYNE & BARBARA BELL,)

)

Complainants,)

)

v.) Appeal No.11-32999

)

SCOTT SHIPMAN, ASSESSOR,)

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MISSOURI,)

)

Respondent.)

 

 

DECISION AND ORDER

 

HOLDING

 

The Assessment made by the Assessor is AFFIRMED.Complainant failed to present substantial and persuasive to prove true value in money of the subject property as of January 1, 2011.

True value in money for the subject property for tax year 2011 is set at $33,350, assessed value of $11,385.

Complainants appeared pro se.

Respondent appeared by Assistant County Counsel Joseph W. Smith.

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

ISSUE

Complainants appeal on the ground of overvaluation.The Commission takes this appeal to determine the true value in money for the subject personal 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.Complainants timely appealed to the State Tax Commission.


2.Submission on Exhibits and Written Direct Testimony.By Order dated 1/18/12, the appeal was submitted on exhibits and written direct testimony, in lieu of an evidentiary hearing.Parties were given until and including March 1, 2012, to file exhibits and written direct testimony, and to state any objections to having the appeal submitted on documents in lieu of an evidentiary hearing.Neither party filed objection to the submission on exhibits and written direct testimony.Respondent filed Exhibits and Written Direct Testimony.[1]Complainants filed no exhibits or written direct testimony.

3.Subject Property.The subject property is a 2004 Kia Sorento and a 2009 Hyundai Genesis.The property is identified by Assessor’s Account Number P070684.

4.Assessment.The Assessor valued the 2004 Kia Sorento at a market value of $7,600, assessed value of $2,533.The Assessor valued the 2009 Hyundai Genesis at a market value of $25,750, assessed value of $8,852.[2]

5.Complainant Failed to Prove Value.Complainant presented no evidence to establish the fair market value of the property under appeal.

6.Fair Market Value.The fair market value as of January 1, 2011 as determined by the Assessor is affirmed.

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.[3]

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.[4]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.[5]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.

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.[6]True value in money is defined in terms of value in exchange and not value in use.[7]It is the fair market value of the subject property on the valuation date.[8]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.[9]

 

Complainants’ Burden of Proof


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.[10]There is no presumption that the taxpayer’s opinion is correct. The taxpayer in a Commission appeal bears the burden of proof.The taxpayer is the moving party seeking affirmative relief.Therefore, the Complainant bears the burden of proving the vital elements of the case, i.e., the assessment was “unlawful, unfair, improper, arbitrary or capricious.”[11]

Substantial evidence can be defined as such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.[12]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.[13]

Owner’s Opinion of Value

The owner of property is generally held competent to testify to its reasonable market value.[14]The owner failed to comply with the Commission Order and tender exhibits and written direct testimony.“Where the basis for a test as to the reliability of the testimony is not supported by a statement of facts on which it is based, or the basis of fact does not appear to be sufficient, the testimony should be rejected.”[15]A taxpayer does not meet his burden if evidence on any essential element of his case leaves the Commission “in the nebulous twilight of speculation, conjecture and surmise.”[16]Absent evidence to support an owner’s opinion of value, the Hearing Officer is left with nothing but the owner’s speculation, conjecture and surmise.Complainants failed to comply with the Commission Order and submit written direct testimony to establish the owner’s opinion of value and exhibits that would provide evidence to support the owner’s opinion.Accordingly, the value established by the Assessor is affirmed.


ORDER

The assessed valuation for the subject property as determined by the Assessor for the subject tax day is AFFIRMED.

The assessed value for the subject property for tax year 2011 is set at $11,385.

Application for Review

Complainants 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, MO65102-0146, 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. [17]

Disputed Taxes

The Collector of St. Charles 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 4, 2012.

STATE TAX COMMISSION OFMISSOURI

_____________________________________

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 4th day of May, 2012, to:Wayne Bell, 707 Autumnwood Forest Dr., Lake St. Louis, MO 63367,Complainant; Joseph Smith, Assistant County Counselor, 100 North Third Street, Room 216, St. Charles, MO 63301, Attorney for Respondent; Scott Shipman, Assessor, 201 North Second, Room 247, St. Charles, MO 63301-2870; Ruth Miller, Registrar, 201 North Second Street, Room 529, St. Charles, MO 63301; Michelle McBride, Collector, 201 North Second Street, Room 134, St. Charles, MO 63301.

___________________________

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] Exhibit 1 – Curriculum Vitae of Matthew Brown; Exhibit 2 – Assessment form of Complainants for 2011; Exhibit 3 – Printout of information received from Missouri Department of Revenue; Exhibit 4 – Printout of information received from October 2010 NADA Guide for the 2004 Kia Sorento; Exhibit 5 – Printout of information received from October 2010 NADA guide for the 2009 Hyundai Genesis; Exhibit 6 – Written Direct Testimony of Matt Brown.

 

[2] Exhibit 6 – Q & A – 25 – 28

 

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

 

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

 

[5] Section 137.115.5, RSMo

 

[6] 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).

 

[7] 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).

 

[8] Hermel, supra.

 

[9] 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.

 

[10] Hermel, supra.

 

[11] 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).

 

[12] See, Cupples-Hesse, supra.

 

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

 

[14] 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).

 

[15] Carmel Energy at 783.

 

[16] See, Rossman v. G.G.C. Corp. of Missouri, 596 S.W.2d 469, 471 (Mo. App. 1980).

 

[17] Section 138.432, RSMo.