HILLSDALE COUNTY SENIOR SERV ICES, INC v HILLSDALE COUNTY Docket No. 144630. Argued March 13, 2013 (C alendar No. 3). Decided May 31, 2013. Hillsdale County Senior Services, Inc. (HC SS), Ella Asaro, Lyle Green, and others, filed an action in the Hillsdale Circuit Court against Hillsdale County, seeking mandamus to enforce the terms of a property-tax ballot proposition that provided for the levy of an additional 0.5 mill property tax in Hillsdale Count y to fund HCSS. The Hillsdal e County voters approved the millage proposition in 2008 to raise funds for th e provision of services to older persons by HCSS. Defendant entered in to a contract with HCSS from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010, but did not levy and spend the full, voter-approved, 0.5 mill. The circuit court, Michael, R. Smith, J., granted plaintiffs ’ writ for mandamus and ordered defendant to levy the entire 0.5 mill for the length of time approved by the voters. In an unpublished opinion per curiam, issued January 3, 2012 (Docket No. 301607), the Court of Appeals, M ARKEY , P.J., and F ITZGERALD and B ORRELLO , J.J., reversed the order, concl uding that the circ uit court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over the case because the Tax Tribunal had exclusive and original jurisdiction over the matter. The Supreme Court granted defendant’s application for leave to appeal. 493 Mich 852. In an opinion by Justice M ARKMAN , joined by Chief Justice Y OUNG and Justices K ELLY , Z AHRA , M C C ORMACK , and V IVIANO , the Supreme Court held : The Tax Tribunal possessed exclusive and orig inal jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claim for mandamus because the claim, which sought to enforce the terms of a property-tax ballot proposition, was a proceeding for dir ect review of a final decision of an agency relating to rates under Michigan’s property tax laws. 1. Under MCL 205.731(a), the Ta x Tribunal has original and exclusive juri sdiction of a claim when it involves: (1) a proceeding for di rect review of a fina l decision, finding, ruling, determination, or order; (2) of an agency; (3) relating to an assessment, valuation, rate, special assessment, allocation, or equalization; (4) under the property tax laws. In this case, the Tax Tribunal has original and exclusive jurisdic tion over plaintiffs’ claim pursuant to MCL 205.731(a). The appeal involved a proceeding for direct review of a final decision of the Hillsdale County Board of Commi ssioners not to levy and spend the full 0.5 mill and the board constitutes an agency for purposes of MC L 205.731(a). Because MCL 400.576 allows defendant to levy up to 1 mill of property tax for servic es to older citizens, the issue arose under the property tax laws. The board’s decision not to levy and spend the full 0.5 mill authorized by the Michigan Supreme Court Lansing, Michigan 

# Syllabus Chief Justice: Robert P. Young, Jr. Justices: Michael F. Cavanagh Stephen J. Markman Mary Beth Kelly Brian K. Zahra Bridget M. McCormack David F. Viviano This syllabus constitutes no part of th e opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decision s for the convenience of the reader. Reporter of Decisions: Corbin R. Davisballot proposition related to “an assessment, valu ation, rate, special assessment, allocation, or equalization” because plaintiffs’ claim that the ballot proposition mandated defendant to levy and spend the full 0.5 mill approved by the voters constitu ted a dispute pertaining to the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation, whic h is a challenge to a “rate.” The Court of Appeals correctly determined th at the circuit court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over plainti ffs’ mandamus claim. 2. When proceeding under MCL 205.731(a), the Tax Tribunal’s jurisdiction is determined by the subject matte r of the proceeding, not by the type of relief requested. Accordingly, the involved part ies may not affirmatively divest the tribunal of jurisdiction by seeking an equitable remedy. In this case, plai ntiffs’ request for mandamus did not divest the tribunal of jurisdiction. Court of Appeals decision affirmed.

Justice C AVANAGH concurred in the result only.

©2013 State of MichiganFILED MAY 31, 2013

S T A T E O F M I C H I G A N

SUPREME COURT

HILLSDALE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES, INC., ELLA ASARO, LYLE GREEN, RUTH GREEN, DONELDA POTTS, JOHN POTT S, and KERBY RUSHING, Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v No. 144630 COUNTY OF HILLSDALE, Defendant-Appellee.

BEFORE THE ENTIRE BENCH

M ARKMAN , J. This case concerns whether the Michigan Tax Tribunal possesses jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claim for mandamus to enforce the terms of a property-tax ballot proposition that provided for the levy of an additional 0.5 mill propert y tax in Hillsda le County to fund plaintiff Hillsdale County Senior Services, Inc. (H CSS). Because that claim falls within the scope of MCL 205. 731(a) as a “proceeding for direct review of a final decision . . . of an agency relating to . . . rates . . . under the property tax laws of this Michigan Supreme Court Lansing, Michigan 

# Opinion Chief Justice: Robert P. Young, Jr. Justices: Michael F. Cavanagh Stephen J. Markman Mary Beth Kelly Brian K. Zahra Bridget M. McCormack David F. Viviano2 state,” we conclude that the tribunal possess es exclusive and original jurisdiction. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals, which vacated and reversed the circuit court’s judgment for mandamus for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.

I. FACTS AND HISTORY

Under the activities or services for older persons act (A SOPA), MCL 400.571 et

seq ., “[a] local unit of government may appropr iate funds to public or private nonprofit corporations or organizations for the purposes of planning, coordinating, evaluating, and providing services to older persons.” MCL 400.573. ASOPA further provides: A governing body of a local unit of government may submit a millage proposition to the electorate to levy up to 1 mill for services to older citizens. This proposition may be submitted at any election held by the local unit of government, but shall not be submitted at a special election of the local unit of government called solely for the purpose of submitting this millage propositio n. [MCL 400.576]

Pursuant to the fore going provision, the Hillsdale Co unty Board of Commissioners, as defendant’s legislative body, submitted a m illage proposition to the county’s voters in August 2008 to raise funds fo r the provision of services to older persons by HCSS. The proposition posed the following question:

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes on the general ad valorem taxes within the County of Hillsdale imposed under Article IX, Section 6, of the Michigan Constitutio n be increased for said Co unty by .5 mill ($0.50 per $1000 of taxable value) for the pe riod of 2008 to 20 22, inclusive, for the intended purpose of planning, co ordinating and providing services to older persons by Hillsdale County Senior Services Center, Inc., as provided by Public Act 39 of 1976 [ASOPA]? Sh all the county levy such increase in millage for this purpose during such pe riod which will raise in the first year an estimated $676,532?3 The proposition was approved at the August 5, 2008 election. Ther eafter, in November 2009, HCSS entered into a cont ract with defendant for the la tter to provide services for older persons from January 1, 20 09, through December 31, 2010. Hillsdale Co Senior Servs Ctr, Inc v Co of Hillsdale , unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued January 3, 2012 (Docket No. 301607) at 2-3. However, in the two fiscal years 2009-2011, for budgetary reasons defendant declined to levy and spend the full 0.5 mill. 1 In response, plaintiffs filed a “Verified Complaint for Mandamus with Request for Temporary Restraining Order, Order to Sh ow Cause, and Request for Preliminary Injunction” in the circuit court, requesting in part that the court: Issue its permanent Order of Mandamus directing the Defendant, its Board and all of its officer s to instruct all pertinen t tax billing authorities or agencies (e.g., city or to wnship officials) to le vy the full 0.5 mill required by the Proposal, in 2010 and all future years covered by the proposal. . . .

* * * [A]ppropriate the full amount of the proceeds of the levy to [HSSC] for the provision of services to th e older population of the County of Hillsdale. The circuit court ruled in per tinent part that “the Plainti ffs’ Writ for Mandamus shall be granted and Defendant shall levy the entire 0.5 mill forthwith, to be reflected on the December, 2010, tax notices and ev ery year hereafter until 2022, inclusive, as set forth in

1 In 2009-2010, defendant le vied and spent 0.15 mill, and in 2010-20 11, defendant budgeted to levy and spend 0.25 mill.4 the voter approved ballot proposal.” 2 Defendant appealed, argu ing that the circuit court lacked subject-matter jurisdic tion over the case because it fa lls within the exclusive and original jurisdiction of the Tax Tribunal. 3 The Court of Appeals agreed with defendant and vacated the circuit court’s judgment. Plai ntiff then applied for and was granted leave to appeal to this Court. Hillsdale Co Senior Servs Ct r, Inc v Co of Hillsdale , 493 Mich 852 (2012).

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW Whether a court has subject-matter jurisd iction is a question of law reviewed de

novo. Elba Twp v Gratiot Co Drain Comm’r , 493 Mich ___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2013). Issues of statutory interpretation are also reviewed de novo. Id.

2 The ruling did not, as request ed by plaintiffs, order the a ppropriation of “the full amount of proceeds of the levy” to HCSS. That is, the circuit court did not order defendant to spend the full 0.5 mill by transferring the proceeds to HCSS.

3 Defendant did not raise the ju risdictional issue in the circu it court. However, as the Court of Appeals asserted: Although defendant included lack of subject-matter jurisdiction as an affirmative defense, defendant ne ither briefed nor argued the issue of subject-matter jurisdiction in the trial court. Consequently, the trial court did not rule on whether it had subject- matter jurisdiction. However, the “[l]ack of jurisdiction of the subject matter may be raised at any time and the parties to an action cannot confer jurisdiction by their conduct or action nor can they waive the defense by not raising it.”. [ Hillsdale unpub op at 3- 4, quoting Paulson v Secretary of State , 154 Mich App 626, 630-631; 398 NW2d 477 (1986).]5 III. ANALYSIS This Court is charged w ith determining whether the circuit court or the Tax Tribunal possesses subject-matter jurisdiction over this case. As always, we begin by considering the relevant constitu tional and statutory provisions.

A. STATUTORY TEXT The jurisdiction of the circuit court is go verned by Const 1963, art 6, § 13, which provides: The circuit court shall have origin al jurisdiction in all matters not prohibited by law; appellate jurisd iction from all inferior courts and tribunals except as otherwise provided by law; power to issue, hear and determine prerogative and remedial wr its; supervisory and general control over inferior courts and tribunals with in their respective jurisdictions in accordance with rules of the supreme court; and juri sdiction of other cases and matters as provided by rules of the supreme court. MCL 600.605 further provides: Circuit courts have original juri sdiction to hear and determine all civil claims and remedies, except wher e exclusive jurisdiction is given in the constitution or by statut e to some other court or where the circuit courts are denied jurisdiction by the constitu tion or statutes of this state. MCL 205.731 provides an exception for jurisdiction in tax cases: The tribunal has exclusive and orig inal jurisdiction over all of the following: (a) A proceeding for direct review of a final deci sion, finding, ruling, determination, or order of an agency [4] relating to assessment, valuation,

4 MCL 205.703(a) defines “agency” as “a board, official, or administrative agency empowered to make a decision, finding, ruling, assessment, determination, or order that is subject to review under the jurisdiction of the tribunal or that has collected a tax for which a refund is claimed.”6 rates, special assessments, allocation, or equalization, under the property tax laws of this state. (b) A proceeding for a refund or re determination of a tax levied under the property tax laws of this state.

* * * (e) Any other proceeding provided by law. Thus, for the tribunal to have jurisdiction pursuant to MCL 205.7 31(a), four elements must be present: (1) a proceeding for direct review of a final decision, finding, ruling, determination, or order; (2) of an agency; (3 ) relating to an assessment, valuation, rate, special assessment, allocation, or equalization; (4) under the property tax laws. Where all such elements are present, the tribunal’s jurisd iction is both original and exclusive. The instant appeal is a proceeding for di rect review of a “final decision”-- the board’s decision not to levy and spend the full 0.5 mill. The board constitutes an “agency” pursuant to the defi nition set forth in MCL 205.703 (a). And the issue here is one arising “under the property tax laws.” See MCL 400.576 (specifically allowing defendant to “levy up to 1 mill [property tax] for services to older citizens”); Const 1963, art 9, § 6 (governing property taxes). 5 Thus, the central issue in this case is whether the

5 The ballot proposition explicitly referenced Const 1963, art 9, § 6, which provides in part: Except as otherwise provided in th is constitution, the total amount of general ad valorem taxes imposed upon real and tangible personal property for all purposes in any one year shall not exceed 15 mills on each dollar of the assessed valuation of property as finally equalized. Under procedures provided by law, which shall guarantee the right of initiative, separate tax limitations for any county and for the townships and for school districts7 board’s decision not to levy and spend the full 0.5 mill “r elat[es] to assessment, valuation, rates, special assessments, allocation, or equalization.” None of the listed terms is statutorily defined, so we begin by consulting a dictionary. Koontz v Ameritech Servs, Inc , 466 Mich 304, 312; 645 NW2d 34 (2002). On initial review of this list, “rates” appears to be the most relevant term under the facts

of this case. “Rate” means “t he amount of a charge or pa yment with reference to some

basis of calculation.” Random House Webster’s College Dictionary (1997). During the pertinent time periods, the board levied 0.15 and 0.25 mills, although plaintiffs claim that the ballot proposition mandated a 0. 5 mill levy. Thus, the heart of the dispute pertains to the “amount of a charge” by defendant to its property taxpayers. Although plaintiffs conceded at oral argument that this case does pertain to rates, 6 they argued to the contrary in their briefs on the grounds that the ba llot proposition could ac hieve only two ends: either it absolutely required th e levy of the full 0.5 mill or it required nothing. However, despite plaintiffs’ all-or-nothing approach, the instant dispute does involve rates for the

therein, the aggregate of which shall not exceed 18 mills on each dollar of such valuation, may be adopted and th ereafter altered by the vote of a majority of the qualified electors of su ch county voting thereon, in lieu of the limitation hereinbe fore established.

6 For example, plaintiffs’ counsel stated: The County decided not to follow the mandate [in the proposition] but to impose a lesser amount and that ’s what the County’s board did. They believed they have the discretion to do so. So why is it not a rate? It is a rate, but what they’ve done to reso lve this dispute is not going to draw on any of the expertise of the Tax Tribun al that underlay the creation of the Tribunal in the first place.8 simple fact that both “all” and “nothing” co nstitute rates-- 0 percent and 100 percent of

the full 0.5 mill-- and in any case, defendant did levy and spend por tions of the 0.5 mill: 30 percent of the 0.5 mill in 2009-2010 and 50 percent of the 0.5 mill in 2010-2011. Plaintiffs simply argu e that defendant is required to levy and spend more -- that defendant must levy a larger “amount of charge,” 100 perc ent of the full 0.5 mill. Accordingly, this case does pertain to “rates.” 7 Thus, all four elements of MCL 207.731(a) are satisfied, and the tribunal possesses exclusive and original jurisdiction in this case.

B. CASELAW Despite the foregoing, confusion has ar isen from earlier caselaw-- namely, our

decisions in Wikman v Novi , 413 Mich 617; 322 NW2d 103 (1982), and Romulus City Treasurer v Wayne Co Drain Comm’r , 413 Mich 728; 322 NW 2d 152 (1982), and the Court of Appeals’ decision in Jackson Dist Librar y v Jackson Co No 2 , 146 Mich App 412; 380 NW2d 116 (1985) ( Jackson ); rev’d on other grounds, Jackson Dist Library v

Jackson Co , 428 Mich 371; 4 08 NW2d 801 (1987) ( Jackson II ). We take this opportunity to clarify the general import of t hose decisions as to the jurisdiction of the

tribunal.

7 Because we conclude that this case pertai ns to rates, we need not address the other terms listed in MCL 205.731(a).9 Wikman and Romulus were companion cases addressing “special assessments”

under MCL 205.731. 8 In Wikman , the plaintiff taxpayer filed suit against the defendant city in circuit court, seekin g injunctive relief and claiming that special assessments levied against him for paving a portion of a road ha d been calculated in an arbitrary and inequitable manner. After issuing a preliminar y injunction enjoining the collection of the special assessment, the court declared the special assessment vo id and permanently enjoined the defendant from its collection. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded to the tribunal, concluding that the latter po ssessed jurisdiction, and this Court affirmed. Much of our analysis considered the particularities of special assessments. Wikman , 413

Mich at 633-635 (“We recognize that significa nt differences exist between special

assessments and other forms of taxation.”). However, Wikman , id . at 647-648, explained more generally: [The] Tax Tribunal lacks the powe r to issue an injunction. The issuance of an injunction is an exerci se of judicial power. The constitution limits the Legislature’s power to transf er judicial power to administrative agencies, see Const 1963, art 3, § 2, Johnson v Kramer Bros Freight Lines, Inc, 357 Mich 254, 258; 98 NW2d 586 (1959). . . . MCL 205.732 . . . does not expressly grant the tribunal the power to issue injunctions, and such power will not be exte nded by implication. Still, Wikman clarified: Although injunctive relief may not be directly available, the tribunal is empowered to issue “writs, orders , or directives,” see MCL 205.732, [9]

8 “Special assessments” are “pecuniary exacti ons made by the government for a special purpose or local improvement, apportioned according to the benefits received.” Wikman , 413 Mich at 632-633.

9 MCL 205.732 provides:10 and nothing in the Tax Tr ibunal Act prohibits one from seeking equitable relief to enforce a tribunal decision. [ Id. at 648 (citations omitted).]

Wikman then concluded that the plaintiffs’ “r equests for preliminary and permanent injunctions in these proceedings do not take th em out of the exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal” because the tribunal “has the jurisd iction and ability to re solve all the claims presented.” Id. at 648-649.

In Romulus , the plaintiffs, township and c ity treasurers and landowners, challenged special assessments for drain taxes, alleging that the defendants , the county and its board, drain commissioner, and trea surer, all committed constructive fraud by

The tribunal’s powers include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (a) Affirming, reversing, modify ing, or remanding a final decision, finding, ruling, determination, or order of an agency. (b) Ordering the payment or refund of taxes in a matter over which it may acquire jurisdiction. (c) Granting other relief or issuing wr its, orders, or directives that it deems necessary or approp riate in the process of disposition of a matter over which it may acquire jurisdiction. (d) Promulgating rules for the impl ementation of this act, including rules for practice and procedure before the tribunal and for mediation as provided in [MCL 205.747], under th e administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MC L 24.201 to 24.328. (e) Mediating a proceeding before the tribunal. (f) Certifying mediators to facilitate claims in the court of claims and in the tribunal.11 using drain funds to pay administrative expenses. 10 At the time of the suit, several

hundred thousand dollars were held in escrow and controlled by the plaintiff treasurers. The plaintiffs sought a pre liminary injunction prohibiting the defendants from enforcing the special assessments and from using the dr ain funds for administrative expenses, and

an order that the funds held in escrow be retu rned to the landowner plaintiffs. In circuit court, the defendants moved for accelerate d judgment on the grou nds that the circuit court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction. Th e circuit court granted the motion, concluding

that the claims were within the tribunal’s jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals then reversed in part because it concluded that the tribunal lacked equ itable jurisdiction. Romulus City Treasurer v Wayne Co Drain Comm’r , 86 Mich App 6 63, 669-670; 273 NW2d 514 (1978). This Court granted leav e to appeal to cons ider “whether the Michigan Tax Tribunal is th e only forum in which relief can be sought . . . .” Romulus City Treasurer v Wayne Co Drain Comm’r , 406 Mich 976, 976-977 (1979). Romulus , 413 Mich at 746, answered that question in the negative and affirmed the Court of Appeals, concluding: [I]t is apparent that under extr aordinary circumst ances a city or township treasurer may not be require d to fulfill his or her ministerial duties. [11] If the instant case presents such circumstances, so as to justify

10 This issue was apparently rendered moot when the Drain Code, MCL 280.1 et seq ., was amended. Romulus , 413 Mich at 733 n 2.

11 Romulus cited two cases involving such “extraordinary circumstances.” Both involved situations in which courts had refused to issue writs of mandamus compelling ministerial acts: Huron Co Drain Comm’r v Chandler Twp Supervisor , 90 Mich 278, 279; 51 NW 282 (1892) (the Court refused to issue ma ndamus because the “pro ceedings [were] so defective that no legal drain could be laid ou t, [and] the supervisor was not in the wrong12 the withholding from the county of th e funds now in es crow, the circuit court will need to determ ine what should be done with the funds. We conclude that, if the funds in escrow have been justifiably withheld from the county, the landowner pl aintiffs’ claim that the funds should be repaid to them because of defendants’ cons tructive fraud is not a claim for a tax refund [pursuant to MCL 205.731(b)] within the ex clusive jurisdiction of the Tax Tribunal.

The Romulus Court further explained that the “Tax Tribunal Act does not prevent a court of equity from determining wh at should be done with fu nds that in extraordinary circumstances have been prope rly withheld from the county.” 12 Id . at 747. However,

Romulus also stated: In cases not involving spec ial assessments, the tribunal’s membership is well-qualified to reso lve the disputes concerning those matters that the Legislature has placed within its jurisdiction: assessments, in refusing to assess the tax.”); Cheboygan Co Bd of Supervisors v Mentor Twp Supervisor , 94 Mich 386, 387-388; 54 NW 169 (1 892) (the Court refused to issue mandamus where the taxes received therefro m would be put to an illegal use). A ministerial act is one in which “the law pres cribes and defines the duty to be performed with such precision and certainty as to leav e nothing to the exercise of discretion or judgment.” Toan v McGinn , 271 Mich 28, 34; 260 NW 10 8 (1935) (quotation marks and citation omitted).

12 Wikman foreshadowed this “extraordinary circ umstances” exception to the tribunal’s jurisdiction: Case law exists indicating that the constitution places some limitations on the Legislature’s power to divest the court completely of equity jurisdiction and th e judicial power to grant an injunction; see Haggerty v City of Dearborn , 332 Mich 304; 51 NW 2d 290 (1952). Thus, while there may be an extraordinary ca se which justifies the exercise of equity jurisdiction in cont ravention of a statute, this is not such a case. [ Wikman , 413 Mich at 648.] As the foregoing and Romulus ’ reference to the Tax Trib unal Act not “prevent[ing]” courts from acting in equity suggest, such an exception does not actually divest the tribunal of jurisdiction but rather limits the exclusivity of such jurisdiction.13 valuations, rates, allocation and equaliza tion. . . . Although the tribunal, in making its determinations, will make conclusions of law, MCL 205.751, [13] the matters within its juri sdiction under MCL 205.731 most clearly relate to the basis for a tax, and much less clea rly to the proper uses which may be made of the funds once collected. Questions concerning how the funds collected may be expended do not appe ar to be implicated in disputes related to assessments, valuations, ra tes, allocation and equalization. The question presented here is whether th e exclusive jurisdiction of the Tax Tribunal extends to such questions when the funds are colle cted pursuant to special assessment laws. [ Id. at 737-738 (citation omitted).] Thus, as with Wikman , Romulus was largely concerned with th e particularities of special

assessments. Accordingly, it should first be noted that Wikman and Romulus are of limited application outside the context of special asse ssments. To the extent that those opinions

address the tribunal’s jurisdiction generally, Wikman indicates that although the tribunal

cannot itself issue injunctions, it can issue orders that may be enforced in circuit court. Thus, Wikman does not suggest, as plaintiffs cont end, that parties may affirmatively divest the tribunal of jurisdiction by seeking equitable remedies. Indeed, Wikman involved a request for an eq uitable remedy, and this Cour t concluded that the tribunal possessed jurisdiction. Moreover, as Wikman additionally explained, when proceeding under MCL 205.731(a), the tribunal’s jurisdic tion is determined by the subject matter of

13 MCL 205.751(1) provides: A decision and opinion of the tribunal shall be made within a reasonable period, shall be in writing or stated in the record, and shall include a concise statement of fact s and conclusions of law, stated separately and, upon order of the tri bunal, shall be officially reported and published.14 the proceeding, not on the type of relief requested. 14 Thus, plaintiffs’ requested relief

here-- mandamus-- does not divest the tribunal of jurisdiction. 15

Moreover, Romulus suggests that in “extraordinary circumstances”-- those so extraordinary that a court may deny mandamus compelling ministerial acts-- the circuit court retains equitable jurisdiction to decide a case that arguably falls within the scope of MCL 205.731(b) (proceedings for refunds). Although this case involves a request for mandamus, it does not present “extraordinary circumstances” such as those present in

Romulus , Huron , and Cheboygan . Further, this case does no t involve a proceeding for a refund under MCL 205.731(b); rather, it involves a proceedi ng under MCL 205.731(a). Once again, therefore, the subject matter, not the type of relief reque sted, determines the

14 Wikman explained: The tribunal’s jurisdiction is based either on the subject matter of the proceeding ( e.g. , a direct review of a final decision of an agency relating to special assessments under property tax laws) or the type of relief requested ( i.e. , a refund or redetermination of a ta x under the property tax laws). In the instant case, the jurisd iction of the Tax Tribunal is governed by the first subsection since plaintiffs are seeking to enjoin permanen tly the collection of a special assessment rather than to obtain a refund of a tax. [ Wikman , 413 Mich at 631.]

15 Plaintiffs alternatively argue that defendant ’s defenses raise constitutional claims that the tribunal is unfit to consider, citing Wikman ’s statement that “[g]enerally speaking, an agency exercising quasi-judicial power do es not undertake the determination of constitutional questions or possess the po wer to hold statutes unconstitutional.” Wikman , 413 Mich at 646-647. However, plaintiffs omit the sent ences that follow: “However, the constitutional claims in this case do not invol ve the validity of a statute. Rather, plaintiffs’ claim is merely an assertion, in constitutional terms, that the assessment was arbitrary and without foundation.” Id

. at 647. As in Wikman , defendant does not seek to invalidate a statute. Defenda nt’s constitutional defenses do not provide an alternative basis for divesting the tr ibunal of jurisdiction.15 tribunal’s jurisdiction. Thus, neither Wikman nor Romulus provides a basis for divesting the tribunal of jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals’ decision in Jackson is in accord. In 1977, Jackson County voters approved a 20-year levy of one mill to establish a p ublic library system, thereby creating the petitioner, Jackson District Library. 16 In 1982, the respondent, Jackson County Board of Commissioners , rolled back the millage to 0.9651 mill pursuant to MCL

211.24e. 17 The petitioner filed a complaint in circu it court, alleging that the board lacked

authorization to roll back th e mill. The complaint was subsequently amended to add a second count seeking declarat ory judgment as to whether the levy was subject to the statute. These two counts were dismissed by s tipulation of the parties for lack of subjectmatter jurisdiction, and a petition containing two virtually identical counts was filed with

16 The proposition asked the following question: Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be imposed upon all property in the Co unty of Jackson be increased by 1.00 mill on each dollar ($1.00 per $1,000. 00) of the assessed valuation, as equalized, for a period of twenty (20) years, 1977 to 1996 , inclusive, said millage increase to be used exclusivel y for the purpose of establishing and operating a single public library sy stem in Jackson County? [ Jackson II , 428 Mich at 375 n 5.]

17 MCL 211.24e(2) provides in relevant part: [U]nless the taxing unit complies w ith section 16 of the uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.436, the governing body of a taxing unit sha ll not levy ad valorem pr operty taxes for operating purposes for an ensuing fiscal year of the taxing unit that yield an amount more than the sum of th e taxes levied at the base tax rate on additions within the taxing unit for th e ensuing fiscal year pl us an amount equal to the taxes levied for operating purposes for the concluding fiscal year on existing property.16 the tribunal, whereupon the tr ibunal determined that it lack ed jurisdiction. However, citing Wikman , the Court of Appeals reversed that determination, concluding: Petitioner’s claim fits the act’s ju risdictional requirement. Petitioner appealed from a final determination of respondent board to rollback a tax levy pursuant to MCL 211. 24e. Respondent board may be viewed as an “agency” for such purpose. The appeal related to a determination of rates under property tax laws, since responde nt board’s action was characterized as a tax rate rollback and petitioner assert ed that public he arings were held to determine if one mill should be le vied. Accordingly, the tribunal had exclusive jurisdiction over petitioner’s claim pursuant to MCL 205.731(a). Because jurisdiction ov er respondents was ob tained when petitioner originally filed its action in the circu it court, the 30-day limitation period of MCL 205.735 was tolled, and thus this matter was not removed from the tribunal’s jurisdiction. Wikman v Novi , 413 Mich 617; 322 NW2d 103 (1982). [ Jackson , 146 Mich App at 417-4 18 (citations omitted).] Although this Court s ubsequently reversed Jackson on other grounds, see Jackson II , 428 Mich at 377-378, Jackson ’s jurisdictional ruling was neve r appealed to this Court. The circumstances surrounding the jurisdictional ruling in Jackson are analogous to those in this case. As the Court of Appeals explained in Hillsdale , unpub op at 5:

In Jackson [], the plaintiffs sought direct review of a “final decision, finding, ruling, determination or order of an agency.” In the present case, plaintiffs sought an order of mandamu s to compel the county to levy the full amount of the millage approved by voters. However, the gist of plaintiff’s action concerns whether th e county has authority to levy less than the millage limita tion approved by voters. A jurisdictional claim “should be determined not by how the plaintiff phrases its complaint, but by the relief sought and the underlying basis of the action.” [18] Colonial Village Townhouse Coop erative v Riverview , 142 Mich App 474, 477-478; 370 NW2d 25 (1985). As in Jackson [], the question presented by plaintiffs’ action relates to direct re view of a determination of rates under

18 As explained earlier, because this case pro ceeds under MCL 205.7 31(a), the tribunal’s jurisdiction is based on the subject matter of the proceeding, not the type of relief requested.17 the property tax laws. Accordingly, the Tax Tribunal has subject-matter jurisdiction and the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to en ter a judgment of mandamus. We agree. As explained in Section III(A) of this opinion, this ca se falls within the tribunal’s jurisdiction, and, as further explaine d in this section, such a determination is entirely consistent with Wikman and Romulus . Thus, this case belo ngs to the tribunal “[n]o matter how skillfully plain tiff camouflages” its claims. Colonial Village, 142 Mich App at 478.

IV. CONCLUSION This case concerns whether the Michigan Tax Tribunal possesses jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claim for mandamus to enforce the terms of a property-tax ballot proposition that provided for the levy of an additional 0.5 mill propert y tax in Hillsda le County to fund plaintiff HCSS. Because that claim falls within the sc ope of MCL 205.731(a) as a “proceeding for direct review of a final decision . . . of an agency relating to . . . rates . . . under the property tax laws of this stat e,” we conclude that the tribunal possesses exclusive and original jurisdictio n. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals, which vacated and re versed the circuit court’s ju dgment for mandamus for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Stephen J. Markman Robert P. Young, Jr. Mary Beth Kelly Brian K. Zahra Bridget M. McCormack David F. Viviano

C AVANAGH , J., concurred in the result only.