Steven P. Sager v. Board of Review of Town of Taycheedah
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COURT OF APPEALS
DECISION
DATED AND FILED
January 6, 2010
David R. Schanker
Clerk of Court of Appeals
NOTICE
This opinion is subject to further editing. If
published, the official version will appear in
the bound volume of the Official Reports.
A party may file with the Supreme Court a
petition to review an adverse decision by the
Court of Appeals. See WIS. STAT. § 808.10
and RULE 809.62.
2009AP972
Cir. Ct. No. 2007CV861
STATE OF WISCONSIN
IN COURT OF APPEALS
DISTRICT II
Appeal No.
STEVEN P. SAGER AND MARY M. SAGER,
PETITIONERS-RESPONDENTS,
V.
BOARD OF REVIEW OF TOWN OF TAYCHEEDAH,
RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.
APPEAL from an order of the circuit court for Fond du Lac County:
STEVEN W. WEINKE, Judge. Reversed and cause remanded with directions.
Before Brown, C.J., Anderson and Snyder, JJ.
¶1
PER CURIAM. The Board of Review of the Town of Taycheedah
appeals from the order of the circuit court that determined that the Board’s
assessment of property owned by Steven and Mary Sager was arbitrary and
capricious. The court remanded the matter to the Board directing it to assess the
No. 2009AP972
property at a value determined by the court. The Town argues that the circuit
court improperly considered evidence outside of the record in its certiorari review,
and that the Board’s determination must be upheld because there was sufficient
evidence to support it, the assessor acted according to statute, and the taxpayer did
not rebut the presumption of correctness. We agree. Consequently, we reverse the
order and remand the matter to the circuit court with instructions to affirm the
decision of the Board.
Background
¶2
The Sagers own a 1.8 acre parcel of land, comprised of a .53 acre
portion on which their residence is built, and a 1.27 acre portion that is not
developed. Both portions have frontage on Lake Winnebago. The Town assessed
the land and improvements at $756,700, which included an assessment of $40,000
for the 1.27 acre undeveloped portion. The Sagers filed an objection, asserting
that the 1.27 acre portion was assessed too high because it was zoned
“conservancy,” and they could not build on it. They argued that it should be
assessed between $18,000 to $29,000. The Board of Review heard the Sagers’
objection.
¶3
At the hearing, the assessor testified at the hearing that the fair
market value of the Sagers’ property was $756,700. The assessor compared the
Sagers’ improvements and property to other properties nearby. The assessor also
testified that he had reduced the value of the 1.27 portion of the property to
account for the fact that is was not “buildable.” The Sagers argued that the parcel
should be compared to an immediately adjacent parcel (the Spies’ parcel). The
Spies’ parcel was also 1.27 acres and was assessed at $29,100. The assessor
countered that the Spies’ parcel is not comparable because, unlike the Sagers’
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No. 2009AP972
parcel, it is landlocked, does not have a road in front of it, and would require a
right of way to access it. The assessor testified that the Sagers’ parcel added
$40,000 in value to the Sagers’ total property because it could be sold for that.
The assessor also testified that he had initially assessed that portion at $45,000, but
had reduced it to $40,000 when Sager said he thought it was too much based on
the assessed value of the Spies’ parcel. The Board upheld the asessor’s valuation
of the Sagers’ property.
¶4
The Sagers then petitioned the circuit court for review. The court
conducted independent research by looking at the internet and reviewed other
sources to determine that the Board’s decision was contrary to law and was
arbitrary and capricious. The court then remanded the matter to the Board to
reassess the Sagers’ property at a value of between $5,176.50 and $12,390.30. It
is from this order that the Town appeals.
Discussion
¶5
This case is determined solely by the standard of review for
decisions of a board of review. We do not have jurisdiction to disturb the findings
and determinations of a board of review, except when the board “acts in bad faith
or exceeds its jurisdiction.” State ex rel. Brighton Square Co. v. City of Madison,
178 Wis. 2d 577, 582, 504 N.W.2d 436 (Ct. App. 1993). Certiorari review is
limited to the record made before the board of review. Nankin v. Village of
Shorewood, 2001 WI 92, ¶20, 245 Wis. 2d 86, 630 N.W.2d 141. “Thus, the court
may not conduct its own factual inquiry and may not admit any new evidence.”
Id. The court may consider only the following factors:
(1) whether the board acted within its jurisdiction;
(2) whether the board acted according to law; (3) whether
the board’s action was arbitrary, oppressive or
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No. 2009AP972
unreasonable, representing its will rather than its judgment;
and (4) whether the evidence was such that the board might
reasonably make the order or determination in question.
Id.
¶6
The assessor’s valuation is presumed to be correct.
Brighton
Square, 178 Wis. 2d at 582. The method of valuation, however, must be in accord
with the statutes. Id. The objector must overcome the presumption of correctness
by a “sufficient showing” that the assessor’s valuation was incorrect. WIS. STAT.
§ 70.47(8)(i) (2007-08).1
“The court [may] not make an assessment of the
property; instead, if it finds any error that renders the assessment void, the court
must set aside the assessment and remand to the board for further proceedings.”
Nankin, 245 Wis. 2d 86, ¶21.
¶7
We review the Board of Review’s determination independent of the
circuit court’s determination. Brighton Square, 178 Wis. 2d at 584. We uphold
the valuation if there is any credible evidence before the board that may “in any
reasonable view support the assessor’s valuation.” Id. Our role is “to determine,
from the evidence presented to the board of review, whether the valuation was
made on the statutory basis.” State ex rel. Flint Bldg. Co. v. Kenosha County
Review Board, 126 Wis. 2d 152, 156, 376 N.W.2d 364 (Ct. App. 1985).
¶8
We conclude that the circuit court exceeded its authority by going
outside of the record to determine the appropriate assessment of the property, and
by remanding the matter to the Board to assess the property at a set amount. We
are particularly concerned with the circuit court’s use of the internet to conduct
1
All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2007-08 version unless otherwise
noted.
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No. 2009AP972
factual research, see, e.g., Kiniti-Wairimu v. Holder, 312 Fed. Appx. 907, 918-19,
2009 WL 430439 (9th Cir. 2009), as well as its determination of the appropriate
valuation. This was beyond the court’s jurisdiction when reviewing a Board’s
determination. The only question properly before the circuit court was whether
the assessment was made in conformity with the statutory mandate.
¶9
The assessor in this case explained to the Board why he had assessed
that portion of the property at $40,000. He explained that the portion increased the
overall value of the property, and why this portion of property was more valuable
than the nearby Spies’ property. The Sagers argued they could not build on the
property and did not use it for anything other than a “buffer.” The Sagers did not
argue that the assessor’s valuation was contrary to statute and did not overcome
the presumption of correctness. We conclude that the assessment was proper and
was entitled to the presumption of correctness. We also conclude that the objector
did not present sufficient evidence to overcome that presumption. Because there
was credible evidence before the Board to support the assessor’s valuation, the
circuit court should have affirmed the decision of the Board of Review.
Consequently, we reverse the order of the circuit court and remand with
instructions to affirm the decision of the Board of Review.
By the Court.—Order reversed and cause remanded with directions.
This opinion will not be published.
809.23(1)(b)5.
5
See WIS. STAT. RULE
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