[Cite as NBC-USA Hous., Inc.–Five v. Levin , 125 Ohio St.3d 394, 2010-Ohio-1553.]

NBC-USA H OUSING , I NC .–F IVE , D . B . A . L OVE Z ION M ANOR , A PPELLANT , v . L EVIN , T AX C OMMR ., ET AL ., A PPELLEES . [Cite as NBC-USA Hous., Inc.–Five v. Levin , 125 Ohio St.3d 394, 2010-Ohio-1553.] Real property taxation — Charitable-us e exemption unavailable for residential property — R.C. 5709.12(B). (No. 2009-0919 — Submitted February 16, 2010 — Decided April 12, 2010.)
A PPEAL from the Board of Tax Appeals, No. 2006-N-1492.

__________________ L ANZINGER , J. {¶ 1} Appellant, NBC-USA Housing, Inc.–Five, d.b.a. Love Zion Manor (“NBC”), appeals from the denial of its application to exempt its real property from taxation. The property is improved with government-subsidized apartments that NBC leases to low-income handicapped and aged tenants, and NBC seeks exemption on the ground that the propert y is “used exclusively for charitable purposes” pursuant to R.C. 5709.12(B). The tax commissioner denied the exemption, the Board of Tax Appeals (“BT A”) affirmed that denial, and NBC has appealed to the court. Because we agree with the BTA that the case law
forecloses NBC’s claim of ch aritable exemption, we affirm.
Facts {¶ 2} NBC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity that is jointly operated by the National Baptist Convention and a local c hurch, Love Zion Baptist. NBC owns and operates a federally subsidized apartment complex for low-income tenants in northeast Columbus. The local church sponsors the project pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with th e national convention. The complex consists of 25 one-bedroom units, and the property is maintained by NBC itself,S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 not by the tenants. NBC and the local c hurch also offer Bible study and social
events for the tenants. Other servi ces include blood-pressure and diabetes screening, but those services are not provided by NBC. Instead, NBC helps its tenants obtain those services from third-party providers. {¶ 3} The complex is federally subsidized through the Section 202 program, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. To qualify to be a tenant of NBC under fe deral guidelines, applicants must have low income and be 62 or older or physi cally disabled. Rent is adjusted in accordance with income. All proceeds are used to provide a safe and sanitary place for tenants to live. 1 {¶ 4} On June 23, 2004, NBC filed an application for exemption under R.C. 5709.12 for tax year 2003 and remission for preceding years. The tax commissioner denied the exemption by fina l determination dated August 8, 2006. In that determination, the co mmissioner held that as property leased for residential purposes, the property at issue could not qualify for exemption in spite of the nonprofit status of the owner and the charitable-minded motives behind the
endeavor. {¶ 5} NBC appealed to the BTA, and at the evidentiary hearing, the owner presented testimony of the pr operty manager along with supporting exhibits. In a decision issued on April 21, 2009, the BTA affirmed the commissioner’s denial of the exemption. In doing so, the BTA observed that the Supreme Court and the BTA “have previously held that property used for private residential housing, includi ng properties where low-in come individuals are not fully responsible for their rent, is not entitled to exemption under R.C.

1. These criteria reflect the requirements of the federal subsidy program but do not qualify it as a “home for the aged” that would be explicitly exempt under R.C. 5709.12(B). R.C. 5701.13 defines “home for the aged” to include nursing homes, “adult care facilities,” and “residential care facilities” that must be licensed or be provided only for members eligible by reason of service to an institution. Some independent-living facilities associated with the licensed facilities are included in the exemption under R.C. 5709.12(C).January Term, 2010

3 5709.12(B).” NBC-USA Hous., Inc.–Five v. Wilkins (Apr. 21, 2009), BTA No. 2006-N-1492, at 10. As for NBC’s additio nal claim that it was entitled to exemption as a charitable institution under R.C. 5709.121, the board held that there was no jurisdiction because NBC had not presented the claim to the commissioner and had not specified it as error in the notice of appeal. Id. at 5, fn.
1. Analysis {¶ 6} More than 40 years ago in Philada Home Fund v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1966), 5 Ohio St.2d 135, 34 O.O.2d 262, 214 N.E.2d 431, syllabus, we articulated the principle that controls the present case: {¶ 7} “Real property owned by a nonprof it charitable corporation the stated purpose of which is to secure and operate resident apartments for aged and needy persons is not exempt from ta xation under Section 5709.12, Revised Code, even though it is shown that the rent inte nded to be charged is at or below cost, and in no event to result in a profit, and that it is expected that some persons unable to pay the full rental will be a ssisted by subventions from corporate
funds.” {¶ 8} See also Cogswell Hall, Inc. v. Kinney (1987), 30 Ohio St.3d 43, 44, 30 OBR 85, 506 N.E.2d 209 (real property exemption denied because the “ ‘furnishing of low-cost housing at or be low market prices, where residents pay a part or all of their rental costs, is not, in and of itself, an exclusive use of property for charitable purposes’ ”), quoting Natl. Church Residences v. Lindley (1985), 18 Ohio St.3d 53, 55, 18 OBR 87, 479 N.E.2d 870 (same pronouncement in connection with denying a sales-tax exem ption that would apply to purchases made by “organizations operated ex clusively for charitable purposes”). {¶ 9} This principle reflects the consiste nt and longstanding doctrine that

a distinctly residential use of real property defeats a claim of charitable exemption, even where attendant circ umstances indicate the existence ofS UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 charitable motives. See also W. Res. Academy v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1950), 153 Ohio St. 133, 41 O.O. 192, 91 N.E.2d 497 (houses supplied as residences for faculty members of preparatory school held not exempt); Doctors Hosp. v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1962), 173 Ohio St. 283, 19 O.O.2d 154, 181 N.E.2d 702 (property adjacent to and owned by hospital that was used as residences by married interns held not exempt); Toledo Business & Professional Women’s Retirement Living, Inc. v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1971), 27 Ohio St.2d 255, 56 O.O.2d 153, 272 N.E.2d 359; Quaker Apts. of Wilmington, Inc. v. Kosydar (1974), 38 Ohio St.2d 20, 67 O.O.2d 36, 309 N.E.2d 863.
NBC’s claim under R.C. 5709.121 is jurisdictionally barred because NBC did not raise it in the notice of appeal to the BTA {¶ 10} NBC’s first proposition of law advances a claim under the expanded scope of charitable exemp tion pursuant to R.C. 5709.121. The BTA held that this argument was barred because NBC “did not specify R.C. 5709.121 in its notice of appeal [to the BTA] or in its application for exemption.” NBCUSA Hous., Inc.–Five , BTA No. 2006-N-1492, at 5, fn. 1. We agree with the BTA that NBC did not specify as error the commissioner’s failure to exempt the property under R.C. 5709.121, with the result that the claim under that section is jurisdictionally barred. {¶ 11} In Brown v. Levin , 119 Ohio St.3d 335, 2008-Ohio-4081, 894 N.E.2d 35, we noted that even where the taxpayer does specify one or more errors in its notice of appeal to the BTA, “the BTA lacks jurisdiction to grant relief from
a final determinati on based on other alleged errors that were not sufficiently specified in the notice of appeal.” I d. at ¶ 17. Moreover, the “specification requirement is stringent,” calling for any contention to be stated “in full and explicit terms” in order to confer jurisdiction. Id. at ¶ 18. In the present case, NBC’s notice of appeal to the BTA sets forth six assignments of error, three that cite R.C. 5709.12 or 5709.12(B), but none that cite R.C. 5709.121. Nor do any ofJanuary Term, 2010

5 the assignments otherwise assert an entitlement to exemption based on the status of the claimant as a charitable institution under R.C. 5709.121. Accordingly, although the notice of appeal specifies a claim of error directly under R.C. 5709.12(B), it does not raise a claim of error under 5709.121. {¶ 12} When a taxpayer has not specified error in the notice of appeal to the BTA, we have no jurisdiction on appeal to grant relief based on that argument.
Newman v. Levin , 120 Ohio St.3d 127, 2008-Ohio-5202, 896 N.E.2d 995, ¶ 27. Accordingly, we cannot consid er this particular claim. NBC’s claims under R.C. 5709.12(B) have no merit {¶ 13} As for claiming exemption directly under R.C. 5709.12(B), NBC attempts to bring its case outside the rule of Philada Home Fund through three main arguments. First, NBC argues that it provides its tenants with services over and above the rental of apartments. Second, NBC argues that it “operates the subject property as part of its religi ous mission to help the needy and the community in general.” Third, NBC argues that the existence of “public policies” favoring its activities entitles it to a ch aritable exemption. None of these circumstances, however, permit NBC to escape the rule of Philada Home Fund

. 2 {¶ 14} First, we have rejected the existence of a judicial “services exception” to that rule. In a sequence of two cases, we first established such an exception and then determined that it had been preempted by legislative action.
In Carmelite Sisters, St. Rita’s Home v. Bur. of Unemp. Comp. Bd. of Review (1969), 18 Ohio St.2d 41, 47 O.O.2d 159, 247 N.E.2d 477, we addressed the issue
whether the doctrine of Philada Home Fund prohibited a charitable exemption

2. NBC’s third proposition of law asserts that the BTA erred by not accepting at face value some of its witness’s testimony regarding the ownership interest and the involvement of the local church in the housing project. To the extent that there is any error, however, the error would be inconsequential and harmless because, as the BTA also correctly stated, proof of church ownership of NBC and involvement in predevelopment costs “would not disprove that appellant is used primarily for federally subsidized housing purposes,” a use of property that does not qualify as charitable under Philada Home Fund

. NBC-USA Hous., Inc.–Five v. Wilkins (Apr, 21, 2009), BTA No. 2006-N-1492, at 11.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

6 from unemployment-compensation taxes. We determined that the provision of on-call physician and nursing services meant that the home could qualify for charitable exemption. Id. at 44-45. {¶ 15} Later we addressed a similar claim for exemption of real property. Natl. Church Residences of Chillicothe v. Lindley (1985), 18 Ohio St.3d 53, 57, 18 OBR 87, 479 N.E.2d 870. In that case we held that a legislative amendment precluded the judicially recognized services exception because, as amended, the statutes explicitly provided a charitable-use exemption for “homes for the aged” pursuant to a statutory definition. Th at enactment precluded the judicially recognized services exception in Carmelite Sisters because henceforth only those taxpayers that satisfied the statutory definition of “home for the aged” could qualify. Id., citing Toledo Business & Professional Women’s Retirement Living
, 27 Ohio St.2d 255, 56 O.O.2d 153, 272 N.E.2d 359. {¶ 16} Under Natl. Church Residences and Toledo Business & Professional Women’s Retirement Living , the charitable-use exemption requires a residential facility to qualif y under the definition of “home for the aged” pursuant to R.C. 5701.13 – or not qualify at all. 3 Since NBC does not and cannot claim that
it satisfies the criteria for a “home for the aged” as defined at R.C. 5701.13, its claim of charitable-use exemption must fail when considered directly under R.C. 5709.12(B). {¶ 17} Second, the status of NBC as carr ying out a religious mission does not by itself entitle it to a charitable exemption. R.C. 5709.12(B) exempts from taxation “[r]eal and tangible personal property belonging to institutions that is used exclusively for charitable purposes .” Under this provision we have emphasized that the entitlement of a particular parcel to exemption depends on the use of the property, not the nature of the institution . First Baptist Church of

3. As noted, R.C. 5701.13 defines “home for the aged” as certain facilities such as nursing homes that are licensed or are provided only for members el igible by reason of service to an institution.January Term, 2010

7 Milford, Inc. v. Wilkins , 110 Ohio St.3d 496, 2006-Ohio-4966, 854 N.E.2d 494, ¶ 15, citing White Cross Hosp. Assn. v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1974), 38 Ohio St.2d 199, 203, 67 O.O.2d 224, 311 N.E.2d 862 (Stern, J., concurring); True Christianity Evangelism v. Zaino (2001), 91 Ohio St.3d 117, 118, 742 N.E.2d 638 (under R.C. 5709.12, “whether the institution is religious or charitable is not a
relevant factor” because the relevant factor is “whether the institution is using the property exclusively for charitable purposes”); Church of God in N. Ohio v.
Levin , 124 Ohio St.3d 36, 2009-Ohio-5939, 918 N.E.2d 981, ¶ 32 (religious institution may obtain charitable exemption for real property that is used exclusively for charitable purposes). {¶ 18} NBC asserts that the religious character of its activities confers a spiritual benefit upon the tenants, par ticularly through the Bible study and evangelistic communication with them. See True Christianity , 91 Ohio St.3d 117, 742 N.E.2d 638. But in determining whether property is “used exclusively for charitable purposes,” we look to the property’s “ primary use, not secondary or ancillary activities.” (Emphasis sic.) Church of God , ¶ 22. As a result, True Christianity does not control in a case like this one, where the dissemination of religious messages is secondary to the pr operty’s primary use: the provision of low-cost residential apartments to the tenants. {¶ 19} Third, contrary to NBC’s suggestion, the existence of a public policy favoring an activity does not establish that activity as being charitable for purposes of exempting property from taxati on. In this regard, NBC notes that we have acknowledged one federal housing-s ubsidy program as “ ‘expressing the judgment of Congress concerning desirable public policy.’ ” Woda Ivy Glen Ltd. Partnership v. Fayette Cty. Bd. of Revision , 121 Ohio St.3d 175, 2009-Ohio-762, 902 N.E.2d 984, ¶ 24, quoting Westside Mothers v. Haveman (C.A.6, 2002), 289 F.3d 852, 858, quoting Bennett v. Kentucky Dept. of Edn. (1985), 470 U.S. 656, 669, 105 S.Ct. 1544, 84 L.Ed.2d 590. Assuming that the same can be said of theS UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

8 federal subsidies at issue in this case, NBC asserts that its “use of the subject property is inherently charitable since it coincides with Congress’s expressed public policy goals.” In essence, NBC argues that nonprofit use plus conformity with congressional public policy equals charitable use. {¶ 20} But tying charitable use so tightly to Congress’s policy goals is wrong because Congress does not define th e scope of charitable use under Ohio
law. 4 Because we have always defined charitable use of property to exclude a primarily residential use, the existence of federal subsidies is not dispositive of NBC’s exemption claim. See Farm Credit Servs. of Mid-America v. Zaino (2001), 91 Ohio St.3d 564, 568, 747 N.E.2d 814 (no exemption available where federal law recognized no immunity); Vought Industries, Inc. v. Tracy (1995), 72 Ohio St.3d 261, 266, 648 N.E.2d 1364 (because the General Assembly “has the power to grant a tax exemption and has chosen not to clearly express an exemption for corporations reorganizing under Chapter 11,” the court had a duty to apply the plain meaning of the exem ption statute and deny the exemption). {¶ 21} Nor does NBC’s citation of Secti on 16, Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution fare any better. That provisi on authorizes the General Assembly to pass laws assisting with the provision of housing to the citizenry without interference from specified constitutional limitations. Noth ing about that grant of authority conflicts with the well-settled exclusion of residential use from the charitable-use exemption or otherwise ma ndates that real property be exempted based on the provision of low-income housing.

4. The Columbus City School District Board of Education states that the United States Congress “provided that all HUD 202 projects would be subject to real property taxation by the states and local subdivisions.” In support, the school board cites one statute and one administrative regulation. Those provisions authorize the Housing and Urban Development Department to make rental assistance payments to defray property taxe s, among other costs. Section. 1701q(c)(2), Title 12, U.S.Code; Section 891.105(5), Title 24, C.F.R. Neither the statute nor the administrative rule purports to control whether or not Ohio can impose property taxes on subsidized projects. It follows that federal law does not control the availability of a charitable-use exemption for the property.January Term, 2010

9 Conclusion {¶ 22} For the foregoing reasons, the tax commissioner correctly denied NBC’s application for exemption, and th e BTA acted reasonably and lawfully
when it affirmed that denial. We therefore affirm the decision of the BTA.
Decision affirmed.
M OYER , C.J., 5 and P FEIFER , O’C ONNOR , O’D ONNELL , and C UPP , JJ.,

concur. L UNDBERG S TRATTON , J., concurs separately.

__________________ L UNDBERG S TRATTON , J., concurring. {¶ 23} Although I believe that providing subsidized housing for the underprivileged is a charitable use that should be exempt from taxation, the court is bound by a long line of cases that hold otherwise. Therefore, I reluctantly

concur. {¶ 24} Some property used for subsidized housing for the elderly is exempt from taxation under R.C. 5709.12(B) and 5701.13 as being used for a charitable purpose. Christian Benevolent Assn. of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. v.
Limbach (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 296, 631 N.E.2d 1034. However, property used for subsidized housing for the underprivileged is not exempt from taxation because “[a] long line of Ohio cases hold that property partly or incidentally used for private residence is nonexempt as not used exclusively for charitable purposes.” Philada Home Fund v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1966), 5 Ohio St.2d 135, 137, 34 O.O.2d 262, 214 N.E.2d 431. {¶ 25} It is difficult to reconcile why using property to provide subsidized housing for the elderly is a charitable use of property, while using property to provide subsidized housing for the underpriv ileged is not. Subsidized housing for

5. The late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer participated in the deliberations in, and the final resolution of, this case prior to his death.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

10 both groups would seem to fall within th e definition of a charitable use, which this court has defined as “the attempt in good faith, spiritually, physically, intellectually, socially and economical ly to advance and benefit mankind in general, or those in need of advancement and benefit in particular, without regard to their ability to supply that need from other sources, and without hope or expectation, if not with positive abnegation, of gain or profit by the donor or by the instrumentality of the charity.” Planned Parenthood Assn. of Columbus, Ohio
v. Tax Commr. (1966), 5 Ohio St.2d 117, 34 O.O.2d 251, 214 N.E.2d 222, paragraph one of the syllabus. However, the authority to create tax exemptions “ ‘is lodged exclusively in the General Assembly.’ ” Christian Benevolent Assn. of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. , 69 Ohio St.3d at 299, 6 31 N.E.2d 1034, quoting Toledo Business & Professional Women’s Retiremen t Living, Inc. v. Bd. of Tax Appeals (1971), 27 Ohio St.2d 255, 258, 56 O.O.2d 153, 272 N.E.2d 359. Therefore, I would invite the General Assembly to examine this inconsistency and consider whether providing housing for the poor s hould also be considered to be a charitable use of property that is exempt from taxation. {¶ 26} Accordingly, because the court is bound by precedent to hold that using property to provide subsidized housing for the underprivileged is not a charitable use that is exempt fro m taxation, I reluctantly concur.

__________________ Karen H. Bauernschmidt Co., L.P.A., Karen H. Bauernschmidt, and Charles J. Bauernschmidt, for appellant. Richard Cordray, Attorney General, and Sophia Hussain and Lawrence D. Pratt, Assistant Attorneys General, for appellee Tax Commissioner Richard A.
Levin. Rich & Gillis Law Group, L.L.C., and Mark H. Gillis, for appellee Columbus City School District Board of Education.

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