Zach, Inc. v. Fulton County

• Decision Date: 13 September 1999
• Docket Number: No. S99G0459.,S99G0459.
• Citation: 520 S.E.2d 899,271 Ga. 411
• Parties: ZACH, INC. v. FULTON COUNTY et al.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

520 S.E.2d 899

271 Ga. 411

ZACH, INC. v. FULTON COUNTY et al.

No. S99G0459.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

September 13, 1999.

Bodker, Ramsey & Andrews, Stephen C. Andrews, David J. Maslia, Atlanta, for appellant.

Bernard R. Thomas, Sr., Vernitia A. Shannon, Atlanta, for appellees.

CARLEY, Justice.

Zach, Inc. is a non-profit corporation created by a national fraternity for the sole purpose of owning real property, which is surrounded by the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and which is used to house fraternity members. Zach filed a property tax challenge, relying on the exemption from ad valorem property taxes for "[a]ll buildings erected for and used as a college, incorporated academy, or other seminary of learning...." OCGA § 48-5-41(a)(6). In prior appeals related to the issue of taxability vel non, the Court of Appeals, relying upon Johnson v. Southern Greek Housing Corp., 251 Ga. 544, 307 S.E.2d 491 (1983) and Alford v. Emory University, 216 Ga. 391, 116 S.E.2d 596 (1960), held that the exemption at issue does not apply to the property because it is not owned by Georgia Tech and Zach is not an "arm or extension" thereof. Zach, Inc. v. Fulton County, 217 Ga.App. 315, 457 S.E.2d 574 (1995) (Zach I); Zach, Inc. v. Fulton County, 226 Ga.App. 842, 487 S.E.2d 602 (1997) (Zach II). However, the Court of Appeals did not address Zach's contention that denial of the application of the exemption to its property violated its right to equal protection, because the trial court did not distinctly pass or rule on that issue. Zach II, supra at 843, 487 S.E.2d 602 (On Motion for Reconsideration). Thereafter, Zach filed a "renewed" motion for summary judgment. The trial court rejected the equal protection challenge and directed the entry of final judgment pursuant to OCGA § 9-11-54(b). The Court of Appeals affirmed. Zach, Inc. v. Fulton County, 235 Ga.App. 478, 509 S.E.2d 746 (1998) (Zach III). We granted certiorari to consider whether the holding that Zach's property is not tax-exempt is consistent with this Court's decisions in Johnson v. Southern Greek Housing Corp., supra, and Alford v. Emory University, supra. Because we hold that the educational use exemption from ad valorem property taxes found in OCGA § 48-5-41(a)(6) applies only to residential property owned by an educational institution or an "arm or extension" thereof, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals.

With few exceptions the courts have held that college fraternities and sororities are not exempt from taxation, because they exist primarily for the convenience of their members, and are mainly concerned with providing them with board, lodging, and recreation, while any educational, charitable, and benevolent purposes are of secondary importance.

Anno., 66 ALR2d 904-905, § 2. See also 71 AmJur2d, State and Local Taxation, § 377. In this state, it is clear that property used for purely residential purposes does not come within the educational use exemption, even if college students or teachers happen to live there. Johnson v. Southern Greek Housing Corp., supra at 547(1), 307 S.E.2d 491; Elder v. Trustees of Atlanta Univ., 194 Ga. 716, 720-722(2), 22 S.E.2d 515 (1942). The owner, not the residents, constitutes the determinative factor for eligibility for the tax exemption. A residential building may come within the exemption only if there is a sufficient nexus between the property and a legitimate educational institution. Elder v. Trustees of Atlanta Univ., supra at 723(2), 22 S.E.2d 515. "Thus, it is clear, at least where the university owns the property, that residential buildings may be `used as a college' and qualify for ad valorem tax exemption under OCGA § 48-5-41(a)(6).... [Cits.]" (Emphasis supplied.) Johnson v. Southern Greek Housing Corp., supra at 547(1), 307 S.E.2d 491. See also Alford v. Emory Univ., supra. "In the absence of a provision to the contrary, it is ordinarily essential to exemption that the property should be owned by the educational institution." 84 CJS, Taxation, § 287(a). The title to the residential property in Johnson was not formally in the college's name, but the nonprofit corporate owner was an arm and extension of the college and performed an educational function in conjunction with and under the auspices of the college. Johnson v. Southern Greek Housing Corp., supra at 547(1), 307 S.E.2d 491. Therefore, the Johnson decision reaches the outer limit of the application of the educational use exemption to residential buildings. If a property has a residential use, but no direct educational use, then it can only meet the statutory requirement of use "as a college" if the college itself, or at least an arm or extension thereof, owns the property as part of that institution's overall nonprofit educational endeavor. Indeed, OCGA § 48-5-41(b) refers to the exemption as "apply[ing] to ... colleges...." See...