Court Opinion

ID: 9676361
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:22:46.34153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:48.010011
License: Public Domain

Donald L. Corbin, Justice, dissenting. I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision reversing and remanding this case for a determination of “whether DPBS has stated a cause of action in illegal exaction.” Although DPBS contends, and the majority agrees, that they are not pursuing an election contest, that is precisely what is at issue here. The effect of the majority’s opinion is to allow a collateral attack on an election, outside the statutorily mandated twenty-day period, that, in my opinion, could lead to dire consequences for all future elections involving proposed millage increases. A challenge such as this one, filed months after the election, could hinder the timely commencement of improvement projects and result in increased production costs. More importantly, allowing a party to challenge the result of an election at any time may deter investors from purchasing bonds from taxing authorities and may also make creditors reluctant to do business with those taxing authorities. Simply stated, today’s decision erodes all confidence in the election process relied on by taxing authorities across the state. While I am sympathetic to voters who may have been misinformed by the information in the pamphlet circulated by the School District, if there is to be a remedy available to challenge an election result based on an allegation of misinformation as to a tax’s consequences, it is a matter that is properly addressed to the General Assembly, not this court. For the reasons stated herein, I respectfully dissent.