47 Ohio St. 2d 19 | Ohio | 1976
Lead Opinion
Before passing upon some of the other specific complaints made by the townships in their appeals, and by the county in its own appeal, discussion of the effect of the county budget, incomp lele and in imbalance when filed, is in order. -Quite clearly, the filing of a partial, incomplete budget circumvents the right-of the public
The evidence provided discloses that the omitted figures were at all times available, capable of ascertainment, and not subject to change. The omitted figures, whether included in the budget in a timely way or not, once obtained, were properly considered by the budget commission in computing needs for the purpose of allocating the local government fund. This decision was not. unlawful under Wise v. Twinsburg, supra (36 Ohio St. 2d 114). That case, cited by the Board of Tax Appeals as authority for its actions, did not decide that the information in the budget, added after the budget was filed, cannot bo considered by the commission in allocating the local government fund. Rather, it' held that tax levies could not exceed needs as disclosed by the budget.
We conclude that the Board of Tax Appeals erred in excluding the special fund information from its recomputation determining needs for the purpose of allocating the local government fund, to the extent that its order was affected by the omission.
Nor do we see that the so-called deficit budget presented by the county in any way violates statute or case law which concerns allocations of the local government fund. See Cuyahoga v. Budget Comm. (1971), 27 Ohio St. 2d 22. Information required by R. C. 5705.29 is furnished
Although appellant Chester complains that the county’s budget includes estimated expenditures for permanent improvements which were not taken into account by the board, the record discloses no evidence compelling a finding that any of the items asserted to be permanent improvements had a life or usefulness as required by R. C. 5705.01(B). Hence, the board’s failure to address appellant’s complaint in this respect does not render its order unreasonable or unlawful.
We conclude that federal revenue sharing funds were properly excluded by the board from its computation of needs of the appellants. Those who are entitled to participate in any appropriation or revenues of a subdivision or taxing unit are not required by R. C. 5705.28, or by any form prescribed by the bureau of supervision of public officers, to include such funds in estimates to he filed under that statute.
The reduction by the board of Geauga County’s increase in estimated general fund figures of 1975 by 40 percent was based upon a conclusion by the board that the stated needs reflected an exaggerated increase from 1974, overstating the effect of inflationary forces. That reduction was a discretionary act of the board specifically authorized by the following language in R. C. 5747.51(B):
“* * * Nothing in this section prevents the budget commission [or the Board of Tax Appeals upon de novo heáring], for the purpose of apportioning the undivided
Such adjustments made or approved by the board will not be disturbed by this court unless it appears that an abuse of discretion has occurred. In Bd. of Co. Commrs. of Clark County v. Budget Comm.(1946), 146 Ohio St 636, at page 641, we stated :
“* * * This court will not determine anew the needs of these subdivisions and, if the amount fixed by the Board of Tax Appeals is reasonable, its factual finding will not be disturbed here on the ground that a different finding as to amount might comport-more nearly with the court’s idea of the respective needs of the subdivisions. * * *”
Cross-appellant charges that use by the board of estimated figures and values, utilizing the estimated year-end balance from- Chester Township and, allegedly, the actual year-end balance of Russell Township, in computing needs for the purpose of the allocation, is inconsistent and unlawful.
We do not conceive, however, that any flat rule need be made requiring the board to use year-end actual balances to the exclusion of estimated figures in arriving at the re-computation necessary for its de novo allocation of the local government.'fund, or- to: use only estimated, figures; This court,- in Bd. of Co. Commrs. of Clark County v. Budget Comm., supra, at pages 640-641, stated:
“* * * the fact that the Board of Tax Appeals.received in evidence these different factual matters did not make its decision unlawful, nor :does:.it necessarily follow that because a revised'budget requestor estimate of expenditures was received in evidence the decision is unlawful,’In proper cases such revised requests or estimates may be re-ceived,'- otherwise mistaken or obviously, wrong- estimates could -not be: corrected; * *■ "What- weight should have- been given to -the revised estimates : submitted by the city of Springfield was a matter for the determination of the Board'of--Tax Appeals-in the-exercise., of its discretion..”
“Upon an appeal' to the Board of Tax Appeals from an allocation of the undivided local government fund by a county budget commission among the various political subdivisions of the county, the board may consider actual receipts and expenditures which occurred after the submission of the tax budgets to, and after the date of hearing before, the budget commission, to accurately, deternrne the actual needs of the various political subdivisions entitled to participate in such funds for the year involved. * * *” (Emphasis added.)
Each of these cases points to the fact that the board, in a de novo hearing, may receive estimates or actual year-end figures, and, as in all other cases, fashion therefrom a decision both reasonable and lawful.
The enactment of it. C. 5747.51 and 5747.52 (and particular^ item 11 of the latter statute) subsequent to the’ Brook Park v. Budget Comm, case, supra, does not demonstrate, as argued by the appellant Chester, an intention of the legislature to reverse our holding in that 'case. The statutory purpose of the language was to authorize the budget commission’s use of estimates, and not, in-a proper ease, as was stated in Bd. of Co. Commrs. of Clark Co. v. Budget Comm., supra, to exclude from the board’s consideration evidence tending to prove that' estimates used by the budget commission are mistakes or obviously'wrong. What is required upon de novo hearing is that all' available evidence be considered, and that the decision be hot unreasonable in light thereof.
Since some reconsideration and recomputation of the allocations here on appeal are needed, the cause is reversed and remanded to the board for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
Decisions reversed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring. In my opinion the majority herein ignores the decision in Cleveland v. Budget Comm. (1976), 47 Ohio St. 2d 27, decided this date, and for that reason, I am constrained to add the following comments :
In Cleveland, the court, in reversing the decision of the. Board of Tax Appeals, stated that:
“* * * The board has the duty to determine the allocation of the local government fund de novo, not simply to affirm or reverse the decision of the county budget commission. * * * That allocation must be based upon some ascertainable and reasonable standard and upon the evidence presented. [Citations omitted.]
“Because the opinion of the board fails to set out adequate reasons, supported by evidence, for its finding that a 22 percent increase in Cleveland’s expenditures accurately reflects the city’s actual needs, the decision of the board is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion. ’ ’
The same result should obtain in the instant cause, because the board’s conclusional statement that “a 15% increase in proposed general fund expenditures for the county for 1975 would be a most reasonable increase and would more properly reflect the actual needs of the county” is insufficient in light of the requirement, in Cleveland, that, the opinion of the board “set out adequate reasons, supported by evidence, for its finding * *
For the foregoing reason, I concur in the judgment of reversal.