Court Opinion

ID: 8300444
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-17 11:12:04.990582+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:44:17.078398
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Wilkes
delivered tlie opinion of tbe Court.
This is a proceeding by certiorari to supersede tbe execution of two distress warrants issued by tbe trustee of Hamblen county, one against tbe Southern Railway and tbe other against tbe Knoxville & Bristol Railway, for taxes, as hereafter stated. At tbe April term, 1905, of tbe quarterly court of Hamblen county, that body levied a tax for tbe year 1905, in tbe following language and terms:
“Be it ordered by the court that tbe following rate of taxes be and tbe same is hereby laid on all real and personal property and polls in Hamblen county, Tennessee, for tbe year 1905:
County tax projper on tbe $100 valuation. $0.30
School tax on tbe $100 valuation.10
Pauper tax on the $100 valuation.10
Railroad tax on tbe $100 valuation.05
Highway tax on tbe $100 valuation.10
Pike tax on the $100 valuation.35
Special tax for maintenance of county workhouse, vault and water-closet improvements.10
Polls. 50
*330“It is further ordered that all privileges shall he the same as that laid by the State, except that the county tax on marriage license shall be fifty cents and on merchant stock ad valorem tax for county purposes the same tax as that laid ’on real and personal property.”
At the January term, 1906, the quarterly court of the county passed an order in these words:
“Be it ordered by the court that the levy made by this court at the April term, 1905, be so amended as to strike out the words, ‘For the maintenance of county' workhouse’ and leave the same so as to‘ read, ‘vault and water-closet improvements’ for courthouse only.”
The taxes imposed by these orders have been paid by the companies, except the pauper tax of ten cents and the special tax for vault and water-closet improvements of ten cents, and the insistence is that these are special taxes which the county court had no authority to levy.
We think that we are not, under this record, called upon to pass upon the question whether the county court may levy a special tax for the erection, maintenance, or repair of the county poorhouse, or asylum for the poor, as the tax in this case was clearly intended for the support of the paupers themselves, and there is nothing indicating that it was expected to be applied to the erection of a county asylum, or for repairs upon the same, except so far as such repairs might come under the head of current expenses. And this is virtually conceded in the argument and presentation of the case, and it is asserted that such special tax has annually been levied for *331the support of paupers in Hamblen and other counties.
It further appears from the agreed statement of facts that the county was, at the time of .the levy of this pauper tax in controversy, the owner of a county poor farm, upon which there were then county buildings, for the care, maintenance, and shelter of the paupers of the county.
If it were the intention of the county court to make this a special tax for the building or the repairing of the county poorhouse, it should have been so specified. Southern Ry. Co. v. Hamblen County, 115 Tenn., 532, 92 S. W., 238.
And in the absence of such specification, we must conclude that the tax was intended to be applied to the support of the poor, lunatics, and idiots; but this is a general county purpose, as provided in section 6045, subsection 3 of Shannon’s compilation; and the county court had the authority, under this statute, to appropriate money for that purpose.
But it has no authority to appropriate money for any other purpose than those enumerated under this section, unless specially provided by law.
We have not been able to find any provision of the statutes authorizing the levy of a special tax for the support of the poor, but it is clearly contemplated that money for such purpose shall be draivn out of the general county fund provided by the general levy for county purposes. Shannon’s Code, sections 2685, 2689.
We are of opinion, therefore, that this special levy *332denominated “pauper tax,” is not authorized by law, and the court below was correct in so holding.
In regard to the other tax complained of, we think it unnecessary to determine the question whether this order of the court, providing for the levy of this tax for vault and water-closet improvement for courthouse only, made the 1st of January, 1906, is an amendment of the levy previously made in 1905, or a new levy made the 1st of January, 1906. It is spoken of in order as an amendment, but it may equally as well be considered a new levy for vault and water-closet improvement for the courthouse.
In either event, the county is not now attempting to impose and -collect a special tax for maintenance of county workhouse.
It is unnecessary, therefore, to determine whether the county court should impose a special tax for the maintenance of a county workhouse.
There is no question but that the erection, maintenance, and keeping in repairs of the courthouse is a purpose for which the county court is authorized to levy a special tax; and this is the tax which is being attempted to be enforced. Shannon’s Code, 503.
The only question that remains is whether the special tax, levied for the year 1905, could be levied at the January term, 1906.
Under the statutes, sections 648, 649, 6013, Shannon’s Code, it is provided, in substance, that the county court shall levy a tax for the current year and fix the rate at the first term in the year, but, if it omit that duty at *333that term, it shall do so at the April term, or any subsequent term thereafter.
It was held in McLean’s Case, 8 Heisk., 250, that a levy for the preceding year may he made at any term during the succeeding year for general purposes, and we can see no reason why it should not have the same right and power to make a levy for special purposes which it had failed to make at a previous term, or which it had made in an irregular and illegal way.
The county court in levying taxes acts in a legislative, and not in a judicial, capacity, and there is no constitutional or legislative provision making the act of the county court in once levying a tax final irrevocable, or not subject to amendment. .
The general rule is that the exercise of the taxing power one time is not final or conclusive, so as to prevent the levy from afterwards being amended. 27 Am. & Eng. Encyc. of Law (2d Ed.), pp. 617, 618, 732.
We are of opinion that if the tax levy made in 1905 was merely irregular and voidable, then it could be remedied and amended by the levy made in 1906. If it was absolutely void, then the county court might make a levy in 1906, without reference to its void action in 1905.
We are of opinion, therefore, that there is no error in the judgment of the court below, that the special pauper tax levied is void, but that the tax levied January 1, 1906, for vault and water-closet improvement for courthouse only, was valid and enforceable.
The cost of the appeal will be equally divided between the parties. The cost of the court below will remain as adjudged by the court below.