Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Inc. v. City of Wauwatosa
Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Inc. v. City of Wauwatosa
Opinion of the Court
¶ 1. The City of Wauwatosa appeals the trial court's order granting summary judgment to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Inc., declaring that the Regional Medical Center was entitled to a property-tax exemption for the tax years 2001, 2002, and 2003, under Wis. Stat. § 70.11(2) for the Center's daycare facility on Milwaukee County land under a long-term lease, and directing that Wauwatosa refund to the Medical Center property taxes it paid under protest for those years. The Regional Medical Center cross-appeals, seeking review of the trial court's non-dispositive determination that the Center was not entitled to a property-tax exemption under § 70.11(4) for the Center's daycare facility for those years.
¶ 2. The facts material to this appeal are not disputed, and, where appropriate, we quote from the parties' written stipulation.
¶ 3. The Regional Medical Center is a consortium of the following members: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, and the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin.
¶ 4. The Regional Medical Center leases land on the Milwaukee County Institutions Grounds in Wauwa-tosa from Milwaukee County. The County has title to the land, which is approximately one and three-quarters of an acre, and was leased to the Center by the County in 1990 for fifty years and for the specific purpose of permitting the Center to build the daycare facility, which the Center did in 1991. The Center pays Milwaukee County rent of one dollar per year for thirty years, which is also the projected "life" of the daycare building for straight-line depreciation purposes. After the thirtieth year, the parties agreed to agree on an appropriate rental for the land, and, if they could not agree, the lease sets the rental at ten-percent of the land's fair-market value, "disregarding any increment in value due to improvements made by" the Center.
¶ 6. The daycare facility "provides year-round comprehensive programs for children age six weeks through six years, along with school age and summer programs for children through age 12." The programs have a large educational component for each age group that is appropriate to that age group. The facility is managed by a company that is not related to the Center, and is paid a flat fee by the Center (ranging, for the years material to this appeal, from $48,000 to $60,000). The teachers and staff at the daycare facility are, however, paid by the Center.
¶ 7. As of October 2001, 151 children were enrolled in the daycare program. This rose to 193 as of November 2002, and to 216 as of December 2003. The daycare facility draws children from "employees and students of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, its member organizations and the general public."
¶ 8. The lease required that the projected daycare facility have "a minimum construction cost of $400,000," and that construction not start until the County approved the facility's "plans and specifications." The County also had to approve any "material changes" in those plans and specifications, as well as any "[ajdditions, additional buildings and alterations to the facility costing in excess of $50,000." No County approval is required, however, "[f]or projects not exceeding a cost of $50,000," unless those projects involved adding to the facility or constructing "additional buildings" on the land.
¶ 9. The lease permitted the Center to finance construction any way the Center saw fit, and allowed the Center to mortgage its leasehold interest in the land. Further, to facilitate financing, the County agreed that it would consider modifications to the lease if requested by one or more sources of financing for the project, and that these modifications could include "the subordination of [Milwaukee Countyj's fee interest in the [land] to any leasehold mortgage."
¶ 10. The lease required the Regional Medical Center to "minimize any interruption of full and corn-
¶ 11. As we have seen, Milwaukee County leased the land to the Regional Medical Center for the specific purpose of building a daycare facility. Thus, the lease essentially restricts use of the land to that purpose:
The [land] and Facility shall be used as a child care center to serve employees and students of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, its member organizations and the general public and for no other purpose, without the prior written consent of [Milwaukee County]. [The Center] shall not lease space in its Facility to any person or entity without the prior written consent of [Milwaukee County] which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be deemed a breach of this lease.
The lease also required the Center, at its "sole cost and expense" to get "fire insurance with an extended coverage endorsement against loss or damage to the Facility in an amount equal to at least eighty percent (80%) of the full insurable value of the Facility, which shall be determined on a replacement cost basis, less physical depreciation of the Facility." (Parenthetical in original.) Milwaukee County had to be named "as a co-insured." The Regional Medical Center also had to get "a public liability insurance policy," with the County on the policy as "an additional insured."
¶ 13. The lease also included various provisions affecting the Center's use of the property. Thus, the Center was allowed to place appropriate signage on the property, and had to keep the land and the facility in a "good, clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition," performing whatever maintenance was reasonably required. The Center also had to properly fence the facility so as to reduce the risk of injury to the children using it. Further, Milwaukee County has the right, upon proper notice to the Center, to enter the land "at reasonable times for the purpose of examining and inspecting whether [the Center] has or is performing [the Center]'s covenants" under the lease, and also to examine, maintain, repair, or replace the County's "util
¶ 14. Although the Center has title to the daycare facility for the duration of the lease, once the lease runs out, title to the facility (excluding the Center's movable property) would, "at the option of Milwaukee County, vest in Milwaukee County . . . free and clear of mortgages, liens or encumbrances." During the lease term, the Center could not, without the prior written approval of the County, sublet either the land or the building. Significantly, under the lease, if the Center makes "substantial capital expenditures" within ten years of the lease's termination, the County must reimburse the Center for "the unamortized value of their replacement cost."
¶ 15. As we have seen, this appeal concerns Wauwatosa's assessment of the Regional Medical Center's daycare facility, both the land and the building, for property taxes for the years 2001, 2002, and 2003. The Regional Medical Center paid the taxes under protest and then brought this action seeking a refund, which the trial court ordered.
II.
¶ 16. The issue presented by both the appeal and by the cross-appeal is whether the Regional Medical Center is exempt from taxes levied by Wauwatosa for
Taxation is the rule and exemption from taxation is the exception. Tax exemption statutes are matters of legislative grace and are to be strictly construed against the granting of an exemption. A strict construction does not mean the narrowest possible reading, however. Rather, the statute should be construed in a "strict but reasonable" manner. The party claiming the exemption must show the property is clearly within the terms of the exception and any doubts are resolved in favor of taxability.
Trustees of Ind. Univ., 170 Wis. 2d at 299, 488 N.W.2d at 130 (citations omitted). We now turn to the appeal and cross-appeal.
A. Appeal by the City of Wauwatosa.
1. Introduction.
¶ 17. As material here, Wis. Stat. § 70.11(2) declares that "[p]roperty owned by any county" "is ex
¶ 18. There are three decisions that set the rules for our analysis: Mitchell Aero, Inc. v. City of Milwaukee, 42 Wis. 2d 656, 168 N.W.2d 183 (1969); Gebhardt v. City of West Allis, 89 Wis. 2d 103, 278 N.W.2d 465 (1979); and Crystal Ridge. We discuss these decisions in turn, and then apply the facts of this case to their teachings.
2. The Governing Case Law.
a. Mitchell Aero.
¶ 19. Although not the first decision to deal with what is "ownership" under the tax-exemption statutes, Mitchell Aero put into play the rule that "legal title" was
We think the ownership of property by a municipality to qualify for exemption under s. 70.11(2), Stats., means real or true ownership and not paper title only. Ownership is often referred to in legal philosophy as a bundle of sticks or rights and one or more of the sticks may be separated from the bundle and the bundle will still be considered ownership. What combination of rights less than the whole bundle will constitute ownership is a question which must be determined in each case in the context of the purpose of the determination. In this case for exemption one needs more than the title stick to constitute ownership.
Id., 42 Wis. 2d at 662, 168 N.W.2d at 185-186.
¶ 20. In Mitchell Aero, Mitchell Aero had a "noncommercial aviation business" at what was then known as "General Mitchell Field." Id., 42 Wis. 2d at 658, 168 N.W.2d at 183. Mitchell Aero leased land from Milwaukee County for twenty years, with an option to renew for five more years. Id., 42 Wis. 2d at 663, 168 N.W.2d at 186. Mitchell Aero built two hangars On the land at its own expense. Id., 42 Wis. 2d at 658, 168 N.W.2d at 183. Title to the hangars, however, was transferred to Milwaukee County for no consideration other than the County's permission to build the hangars. Id., 42 Wis. 2d at 658, 663, 168 N.W.2d at 183, 186. Although Mitchell Aero concluded that it did not "view this arrangement as a bona fide conveyance of the buildings, the cost of which is to be treated as prepaid rent," id., 42 Wis. 2d at 665, 168 N.W.2d at 187, Mitchell Aero was not obligated to pay rent for either hangar for the initial twenty-year term, but would have to pay rent for one of the hangars during the five-year renewal period, id., 42 Wis. 2d at 663, 168 N.W.2d at 186.
b. Gebhardt.
¶ 23. Gebhardt, like Mitchell Aero, concerned a municipality's attempt to tax buildings built on land leased from a tax-exempt entity. Richard Gebhardt and his partner built an ice-skating facility on land they leased from the State of Wisconsin in the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis. Gebhardt, 89 Wis. 2d at 104, 278 N.W.2d at 465. The lease was for an initial term of ten years, which Gebhardt and his partner could renew for ten more years. Ibid. Gebhardt and his partner spent "nearly $500,000" building the ice-rink facility. Ibid. West Allis sought to tax the facility. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 104, 278 N.W.2d at 466. Gebhardt concluded that although Gebhardt and his partner retained title to the facility for the lease term, the State was the facility's beneficial owner, and the facility was thus exempt from taxation. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 106-115, 278
¶ 24. As counsel for Wauwatosa expressed it at oral argument, operation of the ice-rink building at State Fair Park was, in essence, a joint venture between the State and Gebhardt and his partner, with the State receiving substantial benefits from that joint undertaking. Under the lease, Gebhardt and his partner could use the rink for ten months out of the year, and the State had exclusive use of the facility for the remaining two months. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 109, 111, 278 N.W.2d at 468, 469. The State also had the exclusive right to sell concession-type items and refreshments in the ice-rink facility. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 111, 278 N.W.2d at 469. Additionally, the State not only received rent from Gebhardt and his partner, but also was paid "a percentage of the gross receipts from the operation" of their ice-rink business. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 110, 278 N.W.2d at 468. The State's benefit was substantial: "In 1975, [Gebhardt and his partner's income from the property was $81,000 for the ten-month period; while the state received $62,695 in rental proceeds during the two-month period it enjoyed exclusive use of the building and netted $4,896 in profit from operating the concession stand throughout the year." Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 115, 278 N.W.2d at 471. Moreover, the State was able to make Gebhardt and his partner pay $15,000 to modify the building to better accommodate the State's needs during the two months it had exclusive use of the building. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 111, 278 N.W.2d at 469. Further, the State got "a full and complete possessory interest in the" building once the lease expired, id., 89 Wis. 2d at 115, 278 N.W.2d at 470, and the obligations
¶ 25. As we have seen, the State had significant control over the design, construction, and use of the ice-rink facility, most of which concerned the State's ability to profit from the ice-rink building. Id., 89 Wis. 2d at 110-112, 278 N.W.2d at 468-469. But there were other aspects of State control over the operation run by Gebhardt and his partner as well: The State had keys to the ice-rink facility and free access, id., 89 Wis. 2d at 111, 278 N.W.2d at 469; under the lease, Gebhardt and his partner had "to specifically post their hours and fees and cater to special groups in the neighborhood," id., 89 Wis. 2d at 112, 278 N.W.2d at 469; ice-rink customers could not "enter the Fair Park when the state is sponsoring a special event such as automobile races, snowmobile races or concerts," ibid.-, and Gebhardt and his partner could not sell, convey, lease, or sublet the ice-rink building unless the State gave its prior written consent, ibid.
c. Crystal Ridge.
¶ 26. Crystal Ridge, like the other two cases, concerned a municipality's attempt to tax buildings on land leased by a tax-exempt entity. Id., 180 Wis. 2d at 563-564, 509 N.W.2d at 730-731. If Gebhardt was a joint venture in essence, Crystal Ridge was a joint venture in fact.
The county originally planned to develop a ski hill and recreational facility on a 100 acre parcel of land located in the cities of Franklin and Greendale. However,*229 objections from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources prevented the county from carrying out its plan.
Midwest [Development Corp.] proposed construction of a ski hill, ski chalet and other improvements on the same land at no cost to taxpayers. The county accepted this proposal and embarked on a joint venture with Midwest to develop, construct and operate "a down hill facility with restaurant/chalet and parking lot and other sports activities for all seasons ...."
Id., 180 Wis. 2d at 564, 509 N.W.2d at 731 (ellipses in original). The joint venture was to be on county land, under an initial ten-year lease, with three five-year-extension options. Ibid. Although "Crystal Ridge physically occupie[d] and manage[d] the ski hill," Midwest was "the sole lessee and legal occupant" of the property. Id., 180 Wis. 2d at 565 n.3, 509 N.W.2d at 732 n.3. The lease required that Midwest build and pay for a "75 foot high ski hill along with buildings and other improvements to the land costing ’in excess of $500,000.'" Id., 180 Wis. 2d at 565, 509 N.W.2d at 731. Under the lease, Midwest had to pay Milwaukee County "the greater of three percent of gross profits or $10,000 per year." Ibid. The County controlled where the ski hill was to be built and its slope. Ibid. The lease also required that the County "approve the design, specifications, construction and placement of all buildings and other improvements" consistent with schedules approved by the County. Ibid. Fees paid to Midwest to dump landfill on the site, from which the ski hill was to be fashioned, were split between Midwest and the County, with Midwest required to use its share of the fees to " 'improve the facility.'" Ibid. Further, the County had significant control over not only Midwest's accounting, record-keeping, and cash-management equipment, but
¶ 27. Midwest had to insure the facility against potential liability, with the County as a named insured. Id., 180 Wis. 2d at 566, 509 N.W.2d at 732. Midwest also had to get fire insurance, although the County was not a named insured under this policy. Ibid. Crystal Ridge also mentioned that Midwest's bank did not regard the ski-hill facility as Midwest's property and "has refused to consider these buildings as mortgageable property or as collateral for loans." Id., 180 Wis. 2d at 567, 509 N.W.2d at 732.
¶ 28. After reviewing the lease and the relationships between Midwest and Milwaukee County in connection with the ski-hill facility, and "balancing the county's indicia of ownership against Midwest's indicia of ownership," Crystal Ridge determined that Milwaukee County was "the beneficial owner of the" facility and that, accordingly, the property was "exempt from the general property tax pursuant to sec. 70.11(2), Stats." Crystal Ridge, 180 Wis. 2d at 571, 509 N.W.2d at 734.
¶ 29. The rule we derive from Mitchell Aero, Ge-bhardt, and Crystal Ridge, which all concerned buildings put on land leased from a tax-exempt entity, is that the tax-exempt entity is the beneficial owner of the property if it: (1) gets not-inconsequential benefits from the property, and (2) has substantial control focused on preserving or enhancing those benefits. Where both aspects are present, as they are in Gebhardt and Crystal Ridge, the property is exempt from taxa
3. Regional Medical Center's Daycare Facility.
¶ 30. As we have seen, unlike Mitchell Aero, Geb-hardt, and Crystal Ridge, which all involved a determination of whether the tax-exempt-entity lessor of land was the beneficial owner of structures built on that land by the lessee, this case involves both the County land and the building that the Regional Medical Center put on that land. Neither party asks that we consider the beneficial-ownership issue except as it pertains to both the land and the building as a unit.
¶ 31. As Wauwatosa argues, a significant indi-cium of "beneficial ownership" is receipt of a benefit. Unlike the situations in both Gebhardt and Crystal
¶ 32. As for aspects of control by Milwaukee County over the daycare facility, none of them gives to the County the type of day-to-day oversight that was
B. Cross-Appeal by the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.
¶ 33. As an alternative argument, the Regional Medical Center contends that if it is deemed to be the "owner" of the daycare property (land and building) for the tax years underlying this appeal, it is exempt from taxation under Wis. Stat. § 70.11(4), which, as material here, declares non-taxable "[p]roperty owned and used exclusively by educational institutions offering regular courses 6 months in the year; or by educational associations." The Center does not claim that it is an
¶ 34. The statute does not define "educational association." Janesville Cmty. Day Care Ctr., Inc. v. Spoden, 126 Wis. 2d 231, 234 n.2, 376 N.W.2d 78, 80 n.2 (Ct. App. 1985). The case law, however, is clear: the association must pass two hurdles. First, "an organization must be a nonprofit organization substantially and primarily devoted to educational purposes. If the educational function is merely incidental to nonexempt activities ... an exemption will not be granted." Trustees of Ind. Univ., 170 Wis. 2d at 302, 488 N.W.2d at 131 (citation omitted). Second, "the organization must be devoted to 'traditional' educational activities." Ibid. (quoted source omitted). Although the Regional Medical Center's daycare facility involves " 'traditional' educational activities," and the Center is a "nonprofit organization," the Record demonstrates unequivocally that the Regional Medical Center is not "substantially and primarily devoted to educational purposes."
¶ 35. The parties' stipulation describes the Regional Medical Center's purposes as set out in the Center's bylaws: " '(1) to aid and support the development and provision of health services in the Milwaukee region by assisting its members to develop and operate, high-quality, efficient and effective programs of education, research and patient care; (2) to facilitate the efficient development and functioning of the Medical Center Campus.'" Additionally, a financing prospectus for bonds issued on behalf of the Regional Medical Center recites: "The primary business activities of the [Regional Medical Center] include the operation of the 'Flight for Life' air ambulance service, the operation of a child care center and the ownership of a warehouse
¶ 36. The Regional Medical Center has not satisfied its burden to prove that its daycare facility "is clearly within the terms of the exception," see Trustees of Ind. Univ., 170 Wis. 2d at 299, 488 N.W.2d at 130, which requires that an "educational association" for the purposes of Wis. Stat. § 70.11(4) be an "organization substantially and primarily devoted to educational purposes," see Trustees of Ind. Univ., 170 Wis. 2d at 302, 488 N.W.2d at 131 (emphasis added). As Wauwatosa reflects in its brief, "[i]t cannot credibly be argued that [the Regional Medical Center]'s primary purpose is to educate pre-school children." (Emphasis in original.) Indeed, at oral argument, counsel for the Center was asked whether the daycare facility was the "dog or the tail." She replied that it would be more accurate to say that it was a "leg."
III.
¶ 37. The Regional Medical Center has not shown that its daycare facility was, for the years at issue on
By the Court. — Order reversed.
The Milwaukee Regional Medical Center's cross-appeal seeks affirmance of the trial court's grant of summary judgment to it, albeit on a different ground. Although a cross-appeal is necessary when the cross-appellant seeks to modify either the judgment or order from which the appellant appeals, a cross-appeal is not necessary when the cross-appellant seeks an affirmance of the judgment or order, but on a different ground than that given by the trial court. See Wis. Stat. Rule 809.10(2)(b) ("A respondent who seeks a modification of the judgment or order appealed from or of another judgment or order entered in the same action or proceeding shall file a notice of cross-appeal."); Wisconsin Bell, Inc. v. Wisconsin Dep't of Revenue, 164 Wis. 2d 138, 141 n.2, 473 N.W.2d 587, 588 n.2 (Ct. App. 1991) (cross-appeal not necessary to review errors that, if corrected, would sustain the judgment); State v. Holt, 128 Wis. 2d 110, 124, 382 N.W.2d 679, 687 (Ct. App. 1985) ("It is well-established that if a trial court reaches the proper result for the wrong reason, it will be affirmed.").
The parties' stipulation names one of its members as the "Blood Center of Southwestern Wisconsin," but this appears to be a typographical error because the Center's financial statements in the Record designate the member as the "Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin." (Emphasis added.)
Other than the children enrolled in the daycare facility, it is not clear from the Record that the Regional Medical Center has any "students" as such.
Wauwatosa did not tax the Regional Medical Center facility in the 1990s because, as counsel for the City indicated at oral argument, the taxability of the property apparently was then below the City's radar. The Center does not claim that the City's inaction during the 1990s affects its liability for the assessed years.
As material to this part of the opinion, Wis. Stat. § 70.11(2) reads in full:
Property exempted from taxation. The property described in this section is exempted from general property taxes if the property is exempt under sub. (1), (2), (18), (21), (2V) or (30); if it was exempt for the previous year and its use, occupancy or ownership did not change in a way that makes it taxable; if the property was taxable for the previous year, the use, occupancy or ownership of the property changed in a way that makes it exempt and its owner, on or before March 1, files with the assessor of the taxation district where the property is located a form that the department of revenue prescribes or if the property did not exist in the previous year and its owner, on or before March 1, files with the assessor of the taxation district where the property is located a form that the department of revenue prescribes. Leasing a part of the property described in this section does not render it taxable if the lessor uses all of the leasehold income for maintenance of the leased property or construction debt retirement of the leased property, or both, and, except for residential housing, if the lessee would be exempt from taxation under this chapter if it owned the property. Any lessor who claims that leased property is exempt from taxation under this chapter shall, upon request by the tax assessor, provide records relating to the lessor's use of the income from the leased property. Property exempted from general property taxes is:
(2) Municipal property and property of certain districts, exception. Property owned by any county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, metropolitan sewerage district, municipal water district created under s. 198.22, joint local water authority created under s. 66.0823, family care district under s. 46.2895 or town sanitary district; lands belonging to cities of any other state used for public parks; land tax-deeded to any county or city before January 2; but any residence located upon property owned by the county for park purposes that is rented out by the county for a nonpark purpose shall not be exempt from taxation. Except as to land acquired under s. 59.84 (2) (d), this exemption shall not apply to land conveyed after August 17, 1961, to any such governmental unit or for its benefit while the grantor or others for his or her*223 benefit are permitted to occupy the land or part thereof in consideration for the conveyance. Leasing the property exempt under this subsection, regardless of the lessee and the use of the leasehold income, does not render that property taxable.
Mitchell Aero, Inc. v. City of Milwaukee, 42 Wis. 2d 656, 168 N.W.2d 183 (1969), refers to insurance on one hangar, and then without explanation assumes that both hangars had to be insured by Mitchell Aero "up to 80 percent of the insurable value." Id., 42 Wis. 2d at 663-664, 168 N.W.2d at 186. Resolution of this puzzling aspect of Mitchell Aero, however, is not necessary for our analysis.
We express no opinion on what would happen if only one aspect were satisfied because, as we discuss below, neither aspect is present here.
Concurring in Part
¶ 38. (concurring in part; dissenting in part). I write separately because I would affirm the trial court's order on both the beneficial owner issue and the educational association issue.
A. Beneficial Owner Issue.
¶ 39. The majority concludes that the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, rather than Milwaukee County, is the beneficial owner of the day care facility involved here, and therefore does not qualify for property tax exemption under Wis. Stat. § 70.11(2). Although the issue of beneficial ownership is, in my view, a close question, I would affirm the trial court's determination that the County maintained ownership of the property.
¶ 40. The question of whether the County, as lessor, maintained "beneficial ownership" of the property at issue here, or whether beneficial ownership became vested in the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, as lessee, is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. See Mitchell Aero, Inc. v. City of Milwaukee, 42 Wis. 2d at 662; Gebhardt, 89 Wis. 2d at 109-10; Crystal Ridge, Inc., 180 Wis. 2d at 568. The fact-specific analysis is based on an examination of all factors relating to
¶ 41. The trial court, here, addressed the factors that favored concluding that the County was the beneficial owner:
Under the test or factors that would weigh in favor of County ownership, I think the following list, perhaps not exhaustive, but: [1] MRMC is required to obtain County approval of construction plans, [2] the lease would terminate and lessor would have right of possession if all construction was not completed in time. [3] The use of the property is limited to running a day care.
[4] I think it is important that this facility also, I think from, at least without having gone out there and looked at it, but my sense is that it has more possible alternative uses than some of the other buildings.
[5] The lessor has the right to enter the premises. [6] The lessee cannot sell, convey or sublet without written permission from the County. [7] The lessor [i]s required to be included as an additional insured. [8] The lessor is required to restore complete possessory interest upon termination of the lease. [9] The lessee can remove personal property on termination of the lease. However, is required to indemnify for any damages.
[10] The County is not required to purchase back the property from the MRMC. [11] MRMC is required to obtain consent before constructing a parking lot. [12] They are required to pay the County for exterior security. [13] MRMC is required to obtain fire insurance equal to 80 percent of value naming the County as co-insured. [14] They are required to obtain liability insurance naming [the] County as additional insured. [15] They have to get permission before making substantial improvements during the last ten years of the*238 lease. [16] They are required to keep the day care in good state of clean condition, [17] plus service at least 140 children. [18] They have to purchase their electricity and water from the County and [19] any additional or alterations to the facility costing over $150,000 require consent of the County. Many of those things I read are similar to the various conditions set forth in the Gebhardt and Crystal Ridge decisions.
Next, the trial court addressed the factors which suggested that the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center was the beneficial owner:
On the list showing, or tending to show MRMC ownership, [1] MRMC can mortgage their leasehold interests, [2] they are responsible for preparing construction site and building property. [3] They only pay a dollar's rent for first 30 years. [4] They do not pay the County any revenues from the activities on the property. [5] They have title to the facility and any fixtures, equipment or other property upon the premises. [6] The County does not reserve any right for its use of the property for its own purposes. [7] They have - the length of the lease is 50 years. [8] They have no involvement in the operation of the day care. [9] County does not set the prices or hours of operation, and [10] County's approval with respect to any alterations cannot be unreasonably withheld.
After balancing the factors favoring County ownership versus Milwaukee Regional Medical Center ownership, the trial court determined:
I believe that the County does have significant control over the property as set forth in the Gebhardt and Crystal Ridge cases.
They have to, MRMC has to gain permission from the County before it engages in many activities related to their leasehold interest, such as subleasing, building*239 any additions, constructing a parking lot, etc. and while the County cannot unreasonably withhold consent, they still have and retain the right to say no if they don't agree with some change in use of the property that they, MRMC wants to engage in and therefore, comparing the cases, I think that the County exercises enough control.... They are the owners.
So, I'm finding that based on this record, that the County is the beneficial owner of the property. I find comparisons in this case much closer to Gebhardt and Crystal Ridge than Mitchell Aero.
¶ 42. I agree with the trial court's assessment. These tax exemption cases require a balancing of factors. The reason these cases must be assessed on a case-by-case basis is because there is no bright-line rule. All cases will have factors leaning both ways. Here, the trial court, after assessing all of the factors, concluded that the circumstances in the instant case are closer to the rulings that the County maintained beneficial ownership and therefore the day care property should be exempt from paying taxes to the City of Wauwatosa. I agree with the trial court's assessment. In balancing all the "ownership" factors here, and applying the three pertinent cases, the scale tips in favor of the County maintaining beneficial ownership. Therefore, Wis. Stat. § 70.11(2), which grants tax exemption to all County-owned property applies, and the day care center is exempt from general property taxes for the tax years in question.
¶ 43. Moreover, I reject the City's contention that the trial court erred because it simply listed the factors without actually balancing the weight of each factor. The case law in this area does not require a balancing of the weight of each individual factor. Rather, the cases dictate a listing of all the indicia demonstrating ownership by the County and a listing of all the indicia
¶ 44. I also respectfully disagree with the majority's conclusion that the County does not receive a sufficiently significant financial benefit to retain beneficial ownership. In reviewing Mitchell Aero, Gebhardt, and Crystal Ridge, I am not convinced that those cases require proof of an immediate financial benefit in order to find that the County retained beneficial ownership. Rather, my review of those cases suggests that financial benefit was one among many "indicia" of ownership to be considered. These cases present a difficult determination because no two cases involve the same ownership indicia. Thus, we look at all the factors to determine whether the tax-exempt status should apply.
¶ 45. Here, in addition to the control the County retained, the County also receives a not-insignificant financial benefit. Milwaukee Regional Medical Center is required to purchase its electricity, water, sewer and security from the County. It is required to maintain hazard and liability insurance, naming the County as a co-insured and/or an additional insured. The Milwaukee Regional Medical Center agreed to share in the County's legal obligation for payment of fire protection services.
¶ 46. Although the facts in this conveyance-leaseback arrangement are slightly different than all three of the cases discussed herein, I agree with the trial court that that indicia of ownership tips in favor of the County retaining beneficial ownership and, therefore, the property should be tax exempt.
¶ 47. The trial court ruled that Wis. Stat. § 70.11(4) did not apply to this case because the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center does not qualify as an educational association. The majority opinion agrees with the trial court's ruling on this issue. I concur in that part of the majority's opinion.
¶ 48. Based on the foregoing, I respectfully concur in part and dissent in part with the majority opinion in this case. I would affirm in toto the trial court's order.
It is undisputed that the County owns legal title to the property. The issue in this case is whether by leasing the property to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, the latter became the beneficial owner, and therefore rendered the property subject to taxation.
Before the lease was executed, the County agreed to pay to the City of Wauwatosa 85% of the construction costs for a new
Beginning in year 31 of the lease, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center will pay fair market value rent to the County, which is estimated to be approximately $5900 annually. At the conclusion of the leasehold, the County will receive, free of any encumbrances, the day care facility, which was constructed at a cost of at least $400,000.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Inc., Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross-Appellant, v. City of Wauwatosa, Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Respondent
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published