Michigan v. United States

802 F. Supp. 120, 70 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5620, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12258, 1992 WL 236714
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedJuly 28, 1992
DocketNo. 5:90-CV-35
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 802 F. Supp. 120 (Michigan v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Michigan v. United States, 802 F. Supp. 120, 70 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5620, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12258, 1992 WL 236714 (W.D. Mich. 1992).

Opinion

OPINION DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

HILLMAN, Senior District Judge.

I. Introduction.

The State of Michigan and the Michigan Education Trust (the “Trust” or the “MET”) have sued the United States for refund of taxes assessed against income earned by the Trust. They seek the refund under several theories: (1) The Internal Revenue Code (“the Code”) does not apply to the Trust because the Trust is part of the State of Michigan; (2) Code Section 115(1), 26 U.S.C. § 115(1) exempts the Trust’s income from taxation; (3) The Trust qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under Code Sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4), 26 U.S.C. §§ 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4); (4) The doctrine of intergovernmental tax immunity prohibits the tax; (5) The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution bars imposition of the tax; and (6) The Guarantee Clause of the United States Constitution bars imposition of the tax. Presently before the court are the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment.

II. Facts.

The case comes before the court on stipulated facts. The basic facts are as follows.

On December 23, 1986, the Governor of the State of Michigan signed into law the Michigan Education Trust Act (the “Act”), 1986 P.A. 316, M.C.L.A. § 390.1421 et seq.; M.S.A. § 15.2097(421). The Act establishes [122]*122and governs the Michigan Education Trust (the “MET” or the “Trust”) as a mechanism for helping parents (or “purchasers”) finance their children’s (“beneficiaries’ ”) college education. Pursuant to contract between purchasers and the Trust, purchasers invest in the Trust by paying certain actuarially determined amounts. The Trust invests the money it receives. In exchange, the Trust guarantees the college tuition of the beneficiaries at a Michigan State-operated college or university. If a beneficiary attends a private university or an out-of-state university the Trust pays the private or out-of-state institution an amount based on the tuition at Michigan’s public institutions of higher learning.

In certain situations, the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s estate receives the benefit directly. This occurs if the beneficiary dies or becomes disabled, if the beneficiary does not attend college, or if the beneficiary attends an out-of-state or private institution but does not authorize payment of the benefit directly to the institution. In addition, should the Trust become actuarially unsound, it will be dissolved, and its assets paid out to its investors on a pro-rata basis.

An independent board of directors administers the Trust. The board consists of the State Treasurer and eight other members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of ■ Michigan’s Senate. The board has the power, among other powers, (1) to invest the money of the Trust in any instruments, obligations, security, or property; (2) to pay money from the Trust to state institutions of higher education; (3) to impose reasonable residency requirements for qualified beneficiaries; (4) to contract for goods and services and engage personnel as is necessary; (5) to enter into contracts on behalf of the State; (6) to define the terms and conditions under which money may be withdrawn from the Trust, including, but not limited to, reasonable charges and fees for any such withdrawal, if the terms and conditions are made a part of the contract; (7) to establish policies, procedures, and eligibility criteria to implement the Act; and (8) to indemnify or procure insurance indemnifying any member of the board from liability resulting from a member’s conduct as a member of the board. In addition, the Act expressly authorizes the Trust to contract, on behalf of itself or the State, for the provision of services.

The Trust is within the Department of Treasury and its investments are made by employees of Michigan’s Department of the Treasury. However, the Trust exercises its powers independently of the head of the Department of Treasury. While the Trust’s funds may be pooled with funds belonging to the State for investment purposes, the Act otherwise segregates the Trust’s funds; the funds are to be used solely for the purposes of the Trust and may not be used by the State for any purposes. The Act provides that the Trust’s assets shall not be considered state money, common cash of the state, revenue for the purposes of sections 26 to 34 of article IX of the state Constitution, nor state money for the purposes of the statute requiring the state treasurer to pay obligations of the' state from “state money.” The State may, but is not required to, appropriate funds to make up any financial shortfall if the Trust becomes actuarially unsound. Should the Trust be dissolved, any excess funds in the Trust go into the general treasury of the State.

The Michigan Legislature made specific findings and declarations with regard to the need for the Act. These include: (1) that it is an essential function of state government to encourage schools and the means of education, and to encourage attendance at state institutions of higher education; and (2) that it is in the best interest of the people of the state to foster public higher education, to encourage state residents to enroll at state institutions of higher education, to. enhance and foster the ability of Michigan residents to choose an independent,- nonprofit higher education and to encourage state residents desiring an independent higher education to enroll in an independent- institution of higher learning within the state.

The Act subjects the Trust to certain regulations. The form of the Trust’s advance tuition payment contracts must re[123]*123ceive approval from the state administrative board, which is composed of certain officers of the state, and is headed by the Governor. The Trust’s board of directors must conduct its business in compliance with Michigan’s Open Meetings Act. Writings used by the Trust’s board of directors are subject to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. The Trust’s employees are included within the state classified civil service and are subject to rules and regulations of the state Civil Service Commission. The board of directors is required to submit an annual accounting of the Trust to the Governor and political leaders of the Michigan legislature. The accounts of the board are subject to annual audits by the state auditor general or a certified public accountant appointed by the auditor general. The board of directors is required to conduct an annual actuarial evaluation of the Trust, and to adjust payments of subsequent purchasers of Trust contracts to ensure the Trust’s actuarial soundness.

The Act also required the state to solicit rulings from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the application of federal securities law to the Trust. The Trust obtained these rulings. Finally, the Act prohibited the Trust from entering into any advance tuition contracts until the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a favorable ruling that the purchaser of the contract would not be considered actually or constructively in receipt of income. The Trust obtained this favorable ruling from the IRS.

The IRS’s ruling also included a holding that the Trust was not tax exempt under the Code.

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Bluebook (online)
802 F. Supp. 120, 70 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5620, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12258, 1992 WL 236714, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/michigan-v-united-states-miwd-1992.