Great Salt Lake Minerals & Chemicals Corp. v. State Tax Commission

573 P.2d 337, 1977 Utah LEXIS 1342

• Court: Utah Supreme Court
• Decided: December 22, 1977
• Docket: 14962
• Status: Published

Opinions

HALL, Justice:

This is a proceeding to review an order of the State Tax Commission of Utah, hereinafter referred to as “Commission,” holding that certain dikes, pilings, bridges and weirs constructed by Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemicals Corporation, hereinafter referred to as “GSL,” on lands of the State of Utah are improvements subject to ad valo-rem property taxes.

The question as to the applicability of taxes was presented to the Commission on stipulated facts which are abstracted as follows: GSL is the lessee and the State of Utah is the lessor of some 12,000 acres of land adjacent to the Great Salt Lake upon which GSL has constructed a system of solar evaporation ponds for recovery of minerals from the lake. The lands are property of the State of Utah and as such are constitutionally and statutorily exempt from taxation.¹ GSL constructed the solar ponds by forming dikes from earth scooped from the leased lands supplemented by substantial amounts of earth and rock hauled from private off-site locations. In addition to the dikes, the evaporation system includes pumps, pump stations, motors, piping, electrical and mechanical equipment, a pond control center building, wooden pilings, bridges and weirs. GSL only challenges the taxation of the dikes, pilings, bridges and weirs asserting they are state land and thus exempt from taxation.

GSL makes no claim that the dikes, pilings, bridges and weirs are not improvements. Hence the sole issue is whether the improvements are exempt from taxation by reason of the fact they are affixed to realty owned by the State of Utah.

The improvements are an integral part of GSL’s business activities and the effective use of the leased lands is wholly dependent upon the improvements placed thereon. GSL is free to construct, utilize, alter, remove, or even destroy them at will. Without the improvements placed thereon, the bare leased lands have absolutely no utility to GSL, and they were constructed for its sole use and benefit as part and parcel of a venture for profit.

Generally, the taxation of improvements on state lands is a matter of statutory interpretation. Consequently, the decisions of the various jurisdictions are not wholly in accord. However, several with similar statutes have reached the same result as the Commission in this case.²

The California case of Outer Harbor Dock and Wharf Co. v. Los Angeles County3 involved the question of whether a wharf and two warehouses constructed by the plaintiff on land owned by the State of California and leased to plaintiff were exempt from taxation. It was claimed there that the property was securely affixed to the land and was, therefore, realty and could not be taxed. In holding that the property could be taxed as improvements, the California court quoted from a prior case of San Francisco v. McGinn⁴ as follows:

. Therein a certain school lot in the city of San Francisco, which had been dedicated for school purposes forever (and therefore incapable of private ownership) was, pursuant to a special statute, leased to McGinn for a period of 50 years. The lease contained no provision relating to the construction of improvements by the lessee, or entitling the lessee to remove any improvements. McGinn constructed a four-story frame building, with basement, with a brick foundation, permanently imbedded in and attached to the soil. The improvements were assessed for taxation to McGinn for the year 1881-1882, and the suit was brought to collect said taxes. In McGinn’s answer to the complaint he alleged that—

* * * * * *

‘That the improvements mentioned in the complaint are and always have been permanently attached to and are part of said real estate and lot of land described in the complaint, and themselves real estate.’

‘That the property mentioned in the complaint as having been assessed is not, nor any part thereof, and has never been, personal property.’

⅜ * 4c * * *

‘It is not necessary to follow and answer in detail the various reasons given by defendant why he should not be held liable; it is sufficient to say that, for the purposes of revenue, the Legislature of this state has observed a distinction between real estate and improvements, and that distinction has been recognized by this court. . . .We are of opinion that, for the purpose of revenue, the defendant was the owner of the property assessed, and that he is liable for the taxes.’

After quoting the foregoing from the McGinn case, the California Supreme Court said:

Indeed, the rule is thoroughly settled in California that, though the land may be exempt from taxation because it belongs to the city, to the state, or to the United States, yet improvements made thereon by an individual for his own use and benefit are subject to assessment and taxation. .

Turning to the applicable statutory and constitutional law of Utah it is noted that “improvements” are defined as real estate⁵ and includes all buildings, structures, fixtures, fences and improvements erected upon or affixed to land, whether title has been acquired to the land or not.⁶

Article XIII, Section 2, of the Utah Constitution provides for taxation of all tangible property in the state, not exempt, in the following language:

All tangible property in the state, not exempt under the laws of the United States, or under this Constitution, shall be taxed in proportion to its value, to be ascertained as provided by law. The property of the state . . . shall be exempt from taxation. .

U.C.A. 1953, 59-2-2, recognizes the exemption of state land from taxation, but provides for the taxation of improvements thereon in the following language:

No tax shall be levied upon lands, the title to which remains in the state, held or occupied by any person under a contract of sale or lease from the state, but this provision shall not be construed to prevent the taxation of improvements on such lands . ... [Emphasis added-.]

U.C.A. 1953, 59-13-73, imposes a privilege tax upon possession and use of tax-exempt property in the following language:

there is imposed and there shall be collected a tax upon the possession or other beneficial use enjoyed by any private individual, association, or corporation of any property, real or personal, which for any reason is exempt from taxation, when such property is used in connection with a business conducted for profit, . . . [Emphasis added.]

The foregoing statute clearly and unequivocally applies a use tax to all property exempt for any reason, including property theretofore exempt.⁷ The obvious legislative intention was to close any gaps in the tax laws by imposing a tax on any property possessed or used in connection with a business for profit which was otherwise exempt from taxation.⁸

It is most difficult to view the improvements as being owned by the state, and thus exempt from taxation, since the lease provisions not only afford GSL complete freedom to construct, alter or destroy them but also permits their removal within a 12-month period after termination of the lease. Even assuming, however, that ownership is in the state, by the law of fixtures or otherwise, the express language of the privilege tax statute⁹ fills the gap and requires the imposition of taxes.

GSL expended considerable funds on the improvements in question and had they been affixed to private lands there would be no doubt about their taxability and no contention is made to the contrary.

Exemptions from taxation are to be strictly construed and all ambiguities are to be resolved in favor of taxation.¹⁰ Applying this basic rule, a reasonable interpretation of the constitution and statutes will recognize the legislative intent to exempt all state property from taxation, an obviously worthwhile goal, and, on the other hand, to tax all improvements made thereon. A contrary conclusion strains the express language contained therein and thwarts the imposition of taxes. It would foster unfairness since improvements placed on state-owned lands would be exempt while improvements placed on private lands would be taxed. The concept of equal proportionment of taxes is well recognized.¹¹

The Commission properly interpreted the constitution and statutes and its decision is affirmed. No costs awarded.

CROCKETT, MAUGHAN and WILKINS, JJ., concur.

1 . Article XIII, Section 2, Constitution of Utah and U.C.A. 1953, 59-2-1.

2 . Watson Bros. Realty Co. v. Douglas County, 149 Neb. 799, 32 N.W.2d 763 (1948); City & County of San Francisco v. San Mateo County, 17 Cal.2d 814, 112 P.2d 595 (1941).

3 . 47 Cal.App. 194, 193 P. 142 (1920).

4 . 67 Cal. 110, 7 P. 187 (1885).

5 . U.C.A. 1953, 59-3-1 (2)(c).

6 . U.C.A. 1953, 59-3-1(3).

7 . U.C.A. 1953, 59-2-2.

8 .Thiokol Chemical Corp. v. Peterson, 15 Utah 2d 355, 393 P.2d 391 (1964).

9 . U.C.A. 1953, 59-13-73.

10 . State v. Salt Lake County, 96 Utah 464, 85 P.2d 851 (1938), citing State ex rel. Richards v. Armstrong, 17 Utah 166, 53 P. 981 (1898) and Judge v. Spencer, 15 Utah 242, 48 P. 1097 (1897).

11 .Salt Lake County v. Tax Commission, Utah, 548 P.2d 630 (1976).