197 Wis. 390 | Wis. | 1928
The exemption is claimed under sec. 70.11, Stats.:
“The property in this section described is exempt from taxation, to wit: (1) . . . (2) . . . (3) . . .
“(4) Personal property owned by any religious, scientific, literary, educational or benevolent association, or by fraternal societies, orders or associations operating under the lodge system, except university, college and high school fraternities and sororities, which is used exclusively for the purposes of such association, and the real property necessary for the location and convenience of the buildings of such association and embracing the same, not exceeding ten acres; provided, such real or personal property is not leased or otherwise used for pecuniary profit,” etc.
From the time of the organization of the state, places of public worship and buildings belonging to associations devoted to religious, benevolent, charitable, and scientific purposes, with the real estate appurtenant thereto, have been exempted from taxation. At first there was no restriction
It is not disputed that the relator is a religious, educational, and benevolent association within the meaning of the statute. On the one hand it is contended that the total exemptions within the state cannot exceed ten acres; that the relator, having claimed an exemption of its property in Waukesha county, cannot therefore claim a second exemption in Vilas county. On the other hand it is contended that the matter of whether or not property is exempt is to be determined with reference to each taxing district except as otherwise provided by statute, and that an association of the specified kind may therefore claim the exemption provided for by the statute as to its property in each taxing district.
It is quite apparent that the legislature, by the restriction adopted in 1865, did not intend to permit associations of this character to acquire large bodies of land which should be exempt from taxation. In addition to the limitation as to area, it provided that only land necessary for the location and convenience of the■ buildings of such association should be exempt. Therefore an exemption cannot be claimed as to premises wholly vacant and unoccupied.
We need not again discuss the, public purposes underlying the enactment of exemption statutes such as that in question here, nor need we again set forth the rules of construction which are applicable in cases of this kind. The evident purpose of this statute was to encourage the establishment of
If we were in doubt as to the proper construction to be placed upon the statute, we should have to give much weight to the practical construction which has been placed upon the statute ever since its enactment. Certain religious bodies and orders, hospital associations, associations for the care of orphans, etc., have maintained establishments in more than one taxing district for many years, practically throughout the history of the state. The exemption of this prop-' erty has been claimed and allowed in each taxing district without reference to exemptions claimed in other taxing districts. If we were to place the construction upon the statute contended for by the respondent, it would overturn a construction which has been acted upon for more than fifty years in the administration of the tax laws. If but one exemption is to be allowed to these bodies, including the relator, the legislature should make that plain beyond question in view of the established practice.
We. conclude, therefore, that the relator was entitled to the exemptions claimed by it as to its property situated in the town of Boulder Junction, Vilas county.
By the Court. — Ju4gment appealed from is reversed, and cause remanded with directions to set aside the determination of the town board of the town of Boulder Junction, in Vilas county,, and for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. ■ Vi