Montpelier Pub. Library v. Williams Cty. Budget Comm.

1993 Ohio 197

• Court: Ohio Supreme Court
• Decided: July 13, 1993
• Docket: 1992-0653
• Status: Published

Opinion

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Montpelier Public Library, Appellee, v. Williams County Budget Commission et al.; Bryan Public Library, Appellant. [Cite as Montpelier Pub. Library v. Williams Cty. Budget Comm. (1993), Ohio St.3d .] Public libraries -- Allocation of county library support funds -- Remand from Supreme Court to Board of Tax Appeals to determine what part of library's expendable fiduciary funds consisted of interest on revenues deposited to that account -- BTA's decision reversed and remanded when BTA fails to set forth details of its findings on relative needs or the basis on which modified allocations were made. (No. 92-653 -- Submitted January 14, 1993 -- Decided July 14, 1993.) Appeal from the Board of Tax Appeals, Nos. 86-F-1282 and 88-F-838. This case was previously before this court in Montpelier Pub. Library v. Williams Cty. Budget Comm. (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 390, 575 N.E. 2d 152. There, we instructed the Board of Tax Appeals ("BTA") to determine "what part, if any, of the unencumbered balance in Bryan's expendable fiduciary funds consisted of interest on revenues deposited to that account, and, if necessary," to redetermine the appropriate allocations of the Williams County library and local government support funds to Montpelier and to Bryan for 1987 and 1989. Id. at 396, 575 N.E. 2d at 157. On remand, the BTA reduced the allocation to Bryan, because Bryan had earned interest on its expendable fiduciary funds, which enabled it to better meet its needs. Bryan now appeals on the basis that the BTA failed to allocate funds pursuant to R.C. 5705.32(B) and properly follow this court's instructions, and to redetermine Bryan's needs; and that it erred in considering the entire amount of interest earned by Bryan and the unencumbered balance in Bryan's expendable fiduciary funds in calculating the allocation. This cause is now before this court upon an appeal as of right.

Albert E. Fowerbaugh, for appellee. Squire, Sanders & Dempsey and Stephen P. Grassbaugh, for appellant.

Per Curiam. We reverse and remand the decision of the BTA. Although the BTA did consider "Bryan's unencumbered balance in its expendable fiduciary funds," we noted in Montpelier, supra, there was no evidence that only the "protected" funds were included in such balance. According to our earlier decision in Montpelier, the BTA was to determine what part, if any, of Bryan's expendable fiduciary funds consisted of interest. The BTA on remand found it unnecessary to conduct an additional evidentiary hearing because, it concluded, it could decide from the record what part of the expendable fiduciary funds consisted of interest, and whether it was necessary to redetermine the allocations. The BTA, stating it recognized that R.C. 5705.32(B) precluded the use of these types of revenue sources, e.g., interest, to reduce Bryan's allocation, claimed it attached no weight to the existence of the funds. Moreover, while the BTA noted "the presence of Bryan's expendable fiduciary account," it did not "allow the simple existence of that non-tax revenue to contribute to a reduction in Bryan's allocation." The BTA specifically found that the only evidence in the record of any interest earnings on Bryan's expendable fiduciary funds account showed Bryan had earned $22,087 in interest during 1988. However, according to its decision on remand, the BTA had not specifically considered this 1988 amount in its first decision when it modified the allocations for 1987 and 1989. It then decided, in its decision on remand: "[I]n our judgment, this * * * interest * * * merely represents some increased ability by Bryan to meet its outstanding needs" and "the precise amount thereof should not simply be added to or subtracted from the existing allocations but applied, in context, with all the other relevant factors" in the BTA's previous analysis (viz., that Montpelier required additional funding). Accordingly, and without explaining the basis for its computation, the BTA modified its prior decision, by slightly increasing Montpelier's allocation, to reflect Bryan's expanded capability to fund its existing needs. Our instructions, in Montpelier, supra, were precise. The BTA was to determine what part, if any, of the unencumbered balance in Bryan's expendable fiduciary funds consisted of interest, which it did, and to redetermine appropriate allocations to Montpelier and to Bryan for 1987 and 1989. However, we said, in Montpelier, supra, at 395, 575 N.E.2d at 156-157, that interest earned on "protected" items could be considered in determining needs, since it is not legislatively included in the protected class. Although the BTA stated, in its decision on remand, that it had not considered such interest, or other portions of Bryan's expendable fiduciary funds, in its first decision, it nevertheless reduced Bryan's allocation and increased Montpelier's because the interest earned increased Bryan's capacity to fund its existing needs. This observation may be appropriate and the BTA's decision may be correct; however, we are unable to determine whether the BTA's conclusory allocations are reasonable and lawful. The BTA failed to set forth the details of its findings on relative needs, or the basis on which the modified allocations were made. This failure violates Cleveland Pub. Library v. Cuyahoga Cty. Budget Comm. (1986), 28 Ohio St. 3d 390, 394, 28 OBR 448, 451, 504 N.E.2d 421, 424, which stated: "It is contrary to law for the Board of Tax Appeals to fail to fulfill its duty to ascertain the libraries' needs and then to fail to set forth the basis of its findings within its decision * * * ." Having failed to set forth the basis of its findings, the BTA's decision is unlawful. The BTA's decision is reversed and remanded with instructions to the BTA to specify the details of its computation of the modified allocations of the Williams County library and local government support funds for 1987 and 1989. Decision reversed and remanded. Moyer, C.J., A.W. Sweeney, Douglas, Wright, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney and Pfeifer, JJ., concur.