Blades v. City of Falmouth
Blades v. City of Falmouth
Opinion of the Court
Opinion of the Court by
Affirming.
Prior to April 16, 1905, the appellant resided near to and owned property adjoining the city of Falmouth (a city of the fifth class). On the date mentioned the circuit court of that county made an order, in an action brought for that purpose, extending the limits of the city that included the property of the appellants, within the limits of the city. Immediately after the 15th of September of that year the property of the city including the appellants, was assessed or listed
The appellants instituted this action ■ against the city and the Marshal, and sought to enjoin the collection of the taxes upon the ground that the assessment of the property for that year, 1905, was void. First for the reason that their property was assessed by the city clerk; in other words, the person who assessed the property was the city clerk, and the law prohibits one person from holding two municipal offices at one and the. same time, and that his act in assessing the property, for that reason, was void. Second, that the assessor was not sworn before making the assessment. Third, that the city council had no right or authority to make the tax levy in December, 1905, for that year; that the only effect of such levy was for the collection of taxes for the succeeding year; that the levy for the collection of 1905 should have been made after the assessment of 1904, which could not have-imposed a burden upon their property, for the reason that it did not become a part of the city until the month of April thereafter.
It appears that the council did not make the levy after the assessment of 1904, and no levy was made until December 11, 1905. An ordinance making the levy was passed as follows, to-wit:
“The city council of the city of Falmouth, Ky., do ordain as follows:
“1. That there be levied a tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dolars worth of taxable property in the city-of Falmouth, Ky., for the year 1905, for the pur*263 pose of paying the expense and indebtedness of said city.
“2. That a tax be levied of ten cents on each one hundred dolars worth of taxable property in the city of Falmouth, Ky., for the year 1905, to create a sinking fund for the purpose of paying water works improvement bonds and interest on same as they fall due.
“3. That said taxes be paid to Ezra Loomis, Marshal, on or before December 26, 1905; after said date a penalty of six per cent will be added and collected on all unpaid taxes.
“This ordinance to be in force and effect from and after its passage and publication.”
The determination of this question must be controlled by the statutes governing fifth-class, cities. Section 3654, Ky. St. 1903, as far as material, we quote: “All real and personal estate within the city * * * on the 15th day of September in the year in which the assessment shall be made * * * shall be assessed at its fair cash value,” etc. Section 3645, Ky. St. 1903, defining the duties and powers of the Board of Equalization, and the list to be made by the board, reads as follows: “The corrected list for taxes shall be - the assessment roll for said tax for said year.” It shall be certified by the clerk, who shall act as clerk of the board of equalization, as being the assessment roll for said tax, and shall be the assessment roll upon which said tax is to be levied in said year. ’ ’ The language of this statute appears to authorize the council to levy the tax for the year in which the assessment is made.
The counsel for appellant refers to the method used by the counties and state in the levying of taxes; that is, in levying in one year for the collection of taxes in the succeeding year; but' this is governed by other
The, statute says that ip providing a system for the purpose mentioned, it shall not be inconsistent witfi
For these reasons, the judgment of the lower court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.