The Salt Lake County Board of Equalization (Board) seeks review of the Utah State Tax Commission’s (Commission) ruling on the valuation of private property owned by Schneiter Enterprises, Ltd. (Schneiter). The
Schneiter is the owner of two parcels of property located in Salt Lake County. Parcel No. 1 consists of approximately 38.92 acres and contains a nine-hole executive golf course and a small club house. Parcel No. 2 consists of approximately 41.0663 acres of unimproved land.
For the 1990 tax year, the Salt Lake County assessor originally valued parcel No. 1 at $1,006,300 and parcel No. 2 at $954,100. Schneiter petitioned for a hearing before the Board to appeal the assessment. At that hearing, the Board sustained the assessor’s valuation of both parcels. Schneiter then appealed to the Commission. In response to Schneiter’s appeal, the Board sought a reaffirmation of the Board’s previous decision. At the Commission’s formal de novo hearing, the Board presented a comprehensive appraisal of both parcels reflecting a total property value of $2,100,000, or $139,600 higher than the Board’s original assessment. Schneiter submitted evidence that the property value was no more than $1,999,658 when based on a comparable sales approach.
The Commission agreed with the Board’s previous assessment and found Sehneiter’s property value to be $1,006,300 for parcel No. 1 and $954,100 for parcel No. 2. The Commission also noted that the Board’s new appraisal could only serve as corroborative evidence in support of the previous assessment because the Board failed to put Schneiter on notice that it sought to increase the assessment. The Board petitioned for a writ of review of the Commission’s decision.
When reviewing a formal proceeding of the Commission, the reviewing court will “grant the Commission deference concerning its written findings of fact, applying a substantial evidence standard on review.” Utah Code Ann. § 59-l-610(l)(a) (Supp.1994). Accordingly, this court will uphold the Commission’s written findings of fact if they are supported by substantial evidence. However, the court, applying a correction-of-error standard, will grant no deference to conclusions of law. Utah Code Ann. § 59-1-610(l)(b) (Supp.1994); Miller Welding Supply, Inc. v. Utah State Tax Comm’n,
At issue in this case is the Commission’s scope of review in evaluating the Board’s assessments of private property. In a formal hearing, the Commission found that it was beyond its scope of review to increase Schneiter’s property value to the amount supported by the Board’s new appraisal. The Commission reasoned that because the Board failed to give Schneiter notice of the possible increase, the Commission lacked the authority to increase Schneiter’s property assessment. This reasoning, however, is incorrect.
The Commission has the authority to review the Board’s decisions. Utah Code Ann. § 59-2-1006(3). In its review, the Commission may “admit additional evidence!,] issue orders that it considers to be just and proper^] and make any correction or change in the assessment or order of the ... board.” Id. In this case, the Commission incorrectly limited its consideration of the Board’s new appraisal. This new appraisal was additional evidence, and consideration thereof was within the Commission’s scope of review. By limiting its consideration of the appraisal and treating it only as corroborative evidence of the Board’s previous assessment, the Commission was in error.
Furthermore, a taxpayer challenging assessed property taxes cannot prescribe the scope of the Commission’s review. Kennecott Corp. v. Salt Lake County,
Finally, Schneiter claims that because the Board asked for a reaffirmation, not an increase of the Board’s prior assessment of the properties, the Commission had no authority to raise Schneiter’s property taxes. Relying on Chevron U.S.A., Inc., v. Utah State Tax Commission,
CONCLUSION
In assessing the value of Schneiter’s property, the Commission failed to give adequate consideration to the Board’s new appraisal. Because the Commission has the authority to consider additional evidence and make any change or correction to the Board’s decision, the Commission’s partial consideration of the appraisal was inadequate. We therefore reverse and remand the Commission’s decision so the Commission can conduct a proper review of the Board’s decision.
Reversed and remanded.
