In re Delinquent Taxes On Real Estate in Beltrami County
In re Delinquent Taxes On Real Estate in Beltrami County
Opinion of the Court
The Bemidji Townsite & Improvement Company made a motion to vacate a delinquent tax j'udgment and for leave to answer and for an
The company claims that its lots were partially, unfairly and unequally assessed, and that they were assessed at a valuation greater than their actual value. These defenses can be interposed upon the application for the March tax judgment. G. S. 1913, § 2108.
The company alleges fraud, and, without examining the question of the materiality of the fraud, though as to some of the company’s claims it was not material, we proceed directly to the question whether the company was entitled to the relief asked.
The county board of equalization on August 9, 1912, increased the assessment of the personal property of the Crookston Lumber Company in Bemidji from $242,000 to $387,200. A few days later a petition was presented by certain of the business men of Bemidji, through the Commercial Club, asking that this assessment be reduced. Upon consideration the board changed its former action so as to increase the assessment from $242,000 to $276,000. At the same time it increased the valuation of the real estate in Bemidji ten per cent. These matters have always been of record. It appears that they were of general notoriety. The company had large holdings in Bemidji. It necessarily knew or is charged with knowing the amount of the assessments against its property, and if there was an overvaluation it of course knew it. The answer alleges that it was suspicious of the assessment, but was unable to ascertain a basis for its present motion until August, 1919. If there was fraud, evidences of it were put of record and the fact was of general notoriety. We cannot escape the conclusion that if the company had been diligent it would have found a defense, if there was one, long before its motion
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN THE MATTER OF DELINQUENT TAXES ON REAL ESTATE IN BELTRAMI COUNTY, MINNESOTA, FOR THE YEAR 1912
- Status
- Published