Rural Agricultural School District v. Blondell , 251 Mich. 525 ( 1930 )

For many years, the statute relative to the assessment, levy, and collection of taxes has provided:

"The following real property shall be exempt from taxation: * * *

"Lands owned by any * * * school district and buildings thereon, used for public purposes." 1. Comp. Laws 1915, § 4001. Re-enacted in Act No. 331, Pub. Acts 1919, Act No. 55, Pub. Acts 1925, and Act No. 118, Pub. Acts 1927.

In 1925, plaintiff, by condemnation, obtained title to a tract of land in the defendant village, upon which were dwelling houses, intending to use the land for school purposes. At the time the suit at bar was brought the property had not been used for such purposes, and the dwelling houses thereon had been let for private residence purposes at substantial rentals. In 1927, the property was assessed for village taxes. Plaintiff asserted exemption under the statute, and, after levy of the tax, paid the same under protest, and brought this suit to recover the sum paid. Upon motion of defendants, the circuit court held the tax valid, and dismissed the suit.

The record does not disclose the date of the assessment, and we must assume, for the purpose of the legal question involved, that the tax lien attached before Act No. 319, Acts 1927, which consolidated the school laws and exempted the property of school districts from taxation, became effective.

The exemption of property from taxation, made contingent upon use for public purposes, does not extend to a future intended use but is limited to present use.

The rule is stated in 2 Cooley on Taxation (4th Ed.), § 687:

"An intention to use property at some uncertain time in the future, for purposes which will render it exempt from taxation under the laws of the State, does not preclude its taxation before actually used for the purpose warranting an exemption. If the use determines the right to exemption, it is the present use and not the intended use in the future which governs."

The intent to use the property for school purposes does not meet the exemption condition of being presently used for public purposes.

The language of the statute is plain, and requires no construction or citation of authority.

In the companion case between these parties, involving taxation subsequent to 1927, and after Act No. 319, Pub. Acts 1927, became effective, we hold, in an opinion filed herewith (Board of Education v. Blondell, post, 528), that by virtue of such act the property was no longer subject to taxation.

The judgment is affirmed, with costs to defendants.

BUTZEL, CLARK, McDONALD, POTTER, SHARPE, NORTH, and FEAD, JJ., concurred.