In re Boy Scouts of America Quivira Council

270 P.3d 1218, 47 Kan. App. 2d 67, 2012 Kan. App. LEXIS 15
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedFebruary 17, 2012
DocketNo. 105,072
StatusPublished

This text of 270 P.3d 1218 (In re Boy Scouts of America Quivira Council) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Boy Scouts of America Quivira Council, 270 P.3d 1218, 47 Kan. App. 2d 67, 2012 Kan. App. LEXIS 15 (kanctapp 2012).

Opinion

Greene, C.J.:

The Quivira Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) appeals from the denial by the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals (COTA) of its application for an ad valorem tax exemption for its 3,575-acre ranch in Chautauqua County, arguing that COTA erred in holding the ranch was not regularly used by a community service [69]*69organization for the predominant purpose of providing humanitarian services, and that COTA also erred in holding the nonexempt use of the ranch was not minimal in scope and insubstantial in nature when compared to any exempt uses. Concluding that COTA’s decision is fraught with error, we reverse and remand with directions to restore exempt status to the ranch.

Factual and Procedural Background

BSA is a tax-exempt organization that qualifies for federal income tax exemption under Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3). BSA was originally incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in 1924. All property and assets are irrevocably dedicated to the charitable and educational purposes of carrying on the program of the Boy Scouts of America. The directors of BSA serve without pay, and no officers, directors, or members of BSA have a financial interest in the ranch.

From 1960 through 1974, BSA obtained seven contiguous parcels of largely unimproved land — approximately 3,100 acres of land and a 500-acre lake — in Chautauqua County. The ranch is operated as the Quivira Scout Ranch and has been exempt from ad valorem taxation since its acquisition under the provision exempting property used “exclusively for educational, charitable and/or benevolent purposes.” See K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Second.

In 2009, the Chautauqua County Appraiser put the ranch back on the tax rolls, effective January 1, 2009, and no longer recommended the tax exemption because BSA had leased a portion of the land for cattle grazing and allowed guided turkey and deer hunts on the property during hunting season. In addition to these non-Scouting uses, fishing was permitted under limited circumstances. Private individuals (approximately 30 people per year) were allowed to fish at the ranch during a 1-year period as recognition for contributions/donations to the Boy Scouts of $1,000. Finally, BSA entered a lease with Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., allowing placement of communication equipment on a water tower located on the ranch for annual payments of $840. The Appraiser apparently deemed these uses rendered the property ineligible for exemption.

[70]*70BSA submitted applications to COTA requesting tax exemption under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Second and Ninth.

After an evidentiary hearing, COTA denied BSA’s requests for exemption from ad valorem taxation under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Second and Ninth. Regarding the request for tax exemption under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Second, COTA determined BSA’s use of the ranch was not exclusively for an exempt purpose because the cattle grazing and guided hunts on the property could not be considered minimal in scope and insubstantial in nature because they occurred “on all portions of the property” and during 50-70% of the year. COTA further reasoned the payments received for nonexempt uses and BSA’s decision to enter a federal environmental incentive program indicated the ranch was an investment tool, which is prohibited under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Second.

Regarding BSA’s request for tax exemption under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Ninth, COTA first determined BSA was not a community service organization organized for the purpose of providing humanitarian services because it was specifically organized for charitable and educational purposes and failed to show that it served a demonstrated community need. Second, COTA found BSA was not the sole operator of the ranch in light of the grazing lease and the guided hunts. Citing In re Tax Appeal of Univ. of Kan. School of Medicine, 266 Kan. 737, 973 P.2d 176 (1999), COTA ruled these ranch lessees were co-operators of the ranch and could “never” meet the organizational requirements under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Ninth. Finally, even if they were not cooperators, COTA found the lessees’ use of the ranch was not minimal in scope or insubstantial in nature.

BSA timely filed a petition for reconsideration regarding the exemption under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Ninth, thereby abandoning the request for a tax exemption under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Second. After COTA denied the petition for reconsideration, BSA timely petitioned for judicial review.

Standards of Review

COTA made no separately numbered findings of fact, and to the extent tire facts were critical to its decision, BSA does not challenge [71]*71these facts. Instead, BSA contends COTA erred in applying the applicable statutory exemption to these facts. Judicial review of COTA orders is governed by K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 77-621. We may reverse COTA’s decision only if “the agency has erroneously interpreted or applied the law.” K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 77-621(c)(4). Because the issue presented in this appeal concerns the application and interpretation of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 79-201 Ninth, a question of law, this court has unlimited review and owes no deference to COTA’s statutory interpretation. See Kansas Dept. of Revenue v. Powell, 290 Kan. 564, 567, 232 P.3d 856 (2010); In re Tax Exemption Application of Kouri Place, 44 Kan. App. 2d 467, 471-72, 239 P.3d 96 (2010). The taxpayer has the burden of proving the invalidity of COTA’s action. See K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 77-621(a)(l).

While statutes imposing a tax must be interpreted strictly in favor of the taxpayer, statutes granting exemptions are interpreted strictly in favor of the tax and against allowing the exemption. This rule of strict construction does not warrant unreasonable construction. In re Tax Exemption Application of Mental Health Ass’n of the Heartland, 289 Kan.

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Related

National Collegiate Realty Corp. v. Board of County Commissioners
690 P.2d 1366 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1984)
In Re the Appeal of University of Kansas School of Medicine
973 P.2d 176 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1999)
In Re for Tax Exemption of Kouri Place, L.L.C.
239 P.3d 96 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2010)
Kansas Department of Revenue v. Powell
232 P.3d 856 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2010)
In Re the Appeal of the Mental Health Ass'n
221 P.3d 580 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2009)
Nassau County Council Boy Scouts v. Board of Assessors
84 A.D.2d 862 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1981)
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864 P.2d 742 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 1993)

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Bluebook (online)
270 P.3d 1218, 47 Kan. App. 2d 67, 2012 Kan. App. LEXIS 15, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-boy-scouts-of-america-quivira-council-kanctapp-2012.