Barber Asphalt Paving Co. v. Woodbury County

137 Iowa 287 | Iowa | 1908

Deemer, J.

Plaintiff is the owner and holder of a large number of certificates of special assessments growing out of a contract it had with the city of Sioux City for the paving of certain streets therein. These certificates were issued and delivered to plaintiff in payment for the work, and were held by it when this action was commenced. The defendant’s county treasurer retained out of money collected by him in payment of these special assessments three-fourths of one per cent, of the amount thereof upon the assumption that he was entitled thereto as commission under section 490.of the Code. This action is to recover the amount so retained, and to enjoin further retention of these commissions.

Defendants contend that the treasurer was and is entitled thereto under the section of the Code referred to which so far as material, reads as follows: “ Each county treasurer shall receive for his services the following compensation: Three-fourths of one per cent. of.all money collected by him as taxes due any city or town, to be paid out of the same.” We may assume for the purposes of the case that these special assessments were taxes in the broad sense of that term, but it must also appear to justify the retention of the money that these taxes were due the city of Sioux City. It is not enough to show that, when collected, these exactions were for the benefit of the- city, for the statute says, “taxes due the city or town.” Unless they, were due to the city, or what is the same thing, owing to tbe municipality, tbe treasurer bad no authority to retain bis commission out of tbe fund collected. Tbe word “ due ” in its primary sense means “ owing.” Sather Banking Co. v. Briggs Co., 138 Cal. 724 (72 Pac. 352) ; U. S. v. Bank, 31 U. S. 29, (8 L. Ed. 308). And, as applied to tbe statute now before us, tbe words “ due tbe city ” mean “ owing to.” Were these special assessments owing -to tbe city? Manifestly not. Tbe certificates were held by plaintiff, and were payable out of tbe special assessments. These assessments were owing to tbe holders of tbe certificates, although, perhaps, collected for tbe benefit of the city. Under section 841 of the Code tbe county treasurer is. required to pay these assessments to tbe holders of tbe certificates, and not to tbe city. Tbe cost of collecting cannot be included in tbe assessment. Higman v. Sioux City, 129 Iowa, 291. And tbe tax is not for city purposes. Farwell v. Brick Co., 97 Iowa, 286. Moreover, these certificates must be sold at par, with interest down to tbe time of delivery, and bonds may only be issued for tbe amount of special taxes levied; and, if a commission were allowed for tbe collection of tbe taxes, this would amount to such a diminution of tbe fund as would defeat tbe objects and purposes of the statute. Higman v. Sioux City, supra.

In Merril v. Marshall County, 74 Iowa, 24, it is expressly held that a county treasurer is not entitled to retain from a tax voted in aid of railways a commission for tbe collection thereof. This seems to rule tbe case at bar; but it is said that- this case is an authority for appellants, in that a suggestion is there made that,- if tbe taxes were collected for cities or towns, a commission might be retained. It is true there is such a suggestion, but tbe kind of taxes referred to is not mentioned. Moreover, tbe question here presented was in no manner involved or decided, and tbe expression is mere dictum. True it is, that additional work is imposed upon tbe county treasurer in making these collections ; but, unless there be a statute authorizing it, be is not entitled to compensation therefor. State v. Barker, 116 Iowa, 96; Howland v. Wright Co., 82 Iowa, 164.

We do not decide whether or not he is entitled to compensation from the county under paragraph 2, section 490, Code, as that question is not before us. We are very clearly of opinion that the treasurer was not entitled to retain a, commission out of the assessments collected by him.

The judgment is therefore affirmed.