Hannahs v. Anderson

1998 NMCA 152, 966 P.2d 168, 126 N.M. 1
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 14, 1998
DocketNos. 17,898, 18,908
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1998 NMCA 152 (Hannahs v. Anderson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hannahs v. Anderson, 1998 NMCA 152, 966 P.2d 168, 126 N.M. 1 (N.M. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

OPINION

PICKARD, J.

{1} We consolidate two separate appeals brought by Fred and Judy Hannahs (Taxpayers) from decisions of the Bernalillo County Valuation Protest Board (Board). Taxpayers challenge the assessed value placed upon their lot, minus improvements, for the 1996 and 1997 tax years. Taxpayers also claim that the County Tax' Assessor’s (Assessor) denial of their discovery request for information on lot sizes and valuations of other lots within their subdivision prejudiced the presentation of their ease and required the Board to sanction Assessor. An appeal raising similar issues arising out of the 1995 tax year was affirmed by memorandum opinion in Hannahs v. Anderson, Ct.App. No. 17,563 (filed Nov. 14,1996). As we did in the earlier case, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

{2} Taxpayers own property in Bernalillo County. Taxpayers’ real property, consisting of 6,300 square feet of land, was valued at $28,350 or $4.50 per square foot for the 1996 and 1997 tax years. The improvements on Taxpayers’ property were valued at $70,818 for a total assessed value of $99,168. Taxpayers filed protests in 1996 and again in 1997 challenging the Assessor’s valuation of their lot, minus improvements. The petitions in both of those protests raised similar issues.

{3} In 1996 and in 1997, Taxpayers submitted discovery requests which asked to review Assessor’s records on several lots located in Taxpayers’ subdivision. Taxpayers wanted access to Assessor’s computations, valuations, lot sizes, and amount of taxes assessed on the other lots so that they could compare them with Taxpayers’ lot size and valuation. Assessor denied the discovery request because the information Taxpayers sought was contained on record cards which are not generally public information. The property record cards, Assessor explained, are the internal records regarding lot size, improvements, and other property information, some of which is confidential.

{4} At hearings before the Board, Taxpayers argued that the information they sought to review were public records and that the computations and data the Assessor relied on in valuing those properties within their subdivision were not otherwise available. However, Taxpayers admitted that they were able to obtain assessments of the subdivision from a title company and had also purchased a copy of the subdivision plat. Using the dimensions shown on the plat, Taxpayers were able to calculate the lot sizes in the subdivision.

{5} Taxpayers challenged the Assessor’s valuation of their lot. Testimony was presented that Assessor computed the land value of each lot in the subdivision on a $4.50 per square foot basis. Taxpayers’ challenge was based on their argument that the $4.50 per square foot value was not applied uniformly to other lots in the subdivision. Taxpayers demonstrated, using their own calculations of lot size, that values of other lots varied from $3.38 to 6.03 per square foot. Thus, some lots were assessed at more or less than the $4.50 per square foot value assigned by Assessor.

{6} Taxpayers then argued that the assessed value of their lot should be determined by taking its 1993 assessed value and adding to it the appreciation in value. Taxpayers presented an affidavit from a realtor stating that the realtor had conducted a market value analysis of the sales of properties located within Taxpayers’ subdivision. The affidavit explained that the average market value of parcels in that subdivision had appreciated 20 to 21 percent during a period prior to mid-1994 and had since remained stable. Taxpayers added the 20% appreciation to the 1993 assessment which resulted in a total of $20,790 for their land minus improvements — approximately $7,500 less than the challenged assessment.

{7} Assessor argued in both protest hearings that Taxpayers were using an appraisal technique that was not generally accepted and that the market value analysis was the appropriate valuation method. Assessor also explained that segregating the lot value from the improvement value resulted in a flawed valuation. The total value of the property must be examined, Assessor contended. By examining the total assessed value of Taxpayers’ lot through the use of comparable sales, Assessor revealed that Taxpayers’ property was in fact under-assessed.

{8} The Board denied Taxpayers’ protest in both hearings and ordered that no change be made in the 1996 and 1997 valuation records. Additionally, during the 1996 hearing the Board found that the discrepancies in land valuations among the properties in the subdivision were irrelevant to whether Taxpayers’ property had been properly assessed. In the 1997 hearing, the Board sanctioned Assessor for refusing discovery by prohibiting Assessor from objecting to the introduction of Taxpayers’ secondary evidence.

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

{9} The Assessor’s decision will be set aside if it is: “(1) arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion; (2) not supported by substantial evidence in the record taken as a whole; or (3) otherwise not in accordance with law.” NMSA 1978, § 7-38-28(B) (1990).

{10} We do not reweigh the evidence; nor do we substitute our judgment for that of the Board if its findings are supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. See Gallegos v. New Mexico State Corrections Dep’t, 115 N.M. 797, 800, 858 P.2d 1276, 1279 (Ct.App.1992). Whole record review requires us to consider all evidence in support of one party’s contentions and also to consider evidence which is contrary to the Board’s findings. Cibola Energy Corp. v. Roselli, 105 N.M. 774, 776, 737 P.2d 555, 557 (Ct.App.1987). Then, we must “decide whether, on balance, the agency’s decision was supported by substantial evidence.” Id.

B. Discovery

{11} Taxpayers argue that the lot-size and valuation information they sought to inspect are public records and that Assessor wrongfully denied their discovery requests. Taxpayers claim that they needed the requested material in order to have a meaningful opportunity to prepare and present their case by showing the Board that the information Assessor relied on and applied in valuing their lot was flawed. Taxpayers contend they were prejudiced not only because Assessor denied discovery, but also because the Board failed to offset the impact of such denial by refusing to grant them the relief they were entitled to under PTC Regulation 38-27:3. PTC Regulation 38-27:3 provides:

PROTEST HEARINGS-DISCOVERY-CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO ALLOW DISCOVERY
The protestant has the right to discover relevant and material evidence in the possession of the assessor prior to the protest hearing. If the assessor refuses to permit discovery, the County Valuation Protests Board, for the purpose of resolving issues and disposing of the proceeding without undue delay despite the refusal, may take such action in regard to the refusal as is just, including but not limited to, the following:

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Bluebook (online)
1998 NMCA 152, 966 P.2d 168, 126 N.M. 1, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hannahs-v-anderson-nmctapp-1998.