JUSTICE McBRIDE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
¶ 1 On appeal, plaintiff Constance Oswald, as a Cook County real property taxpayer, argues that section 15-86 of the Property Tax Code (Code) (35 ILCS 200/15-86 (West 2012)) is unconstitutional on its face because section 15-86(c) purports to grant a property tax exemption to a hospital applicant without regard to whether the property is used exclusively for charitable purposes, as required under article IX, section 6, of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. IX, § 6).
¶ 2 In November 2012, plaintiff filed an action for declaratory judgment in the trial court, challenging the constitutionality of section 15-86. Section 15-86 details the process to seek a property tax exemption for certain Illinois hospitals and their affiliates. Plaintiff asserted that section 15-86 violates article IX, section 6, of the Illinois Constitution and, therefore, was unconstitutional on its face. Following cross-motions for summary judgment, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of defendants, Brian Hamer, as Director of Revenue, and the Illinois Department of
¶ 3 There is no factual dispute in this case. The only issue before this court, whether section 15-86 is facially constitutional, is purely a question of law. We review a statute's constitutionality de novo. People ex rel. Birkett v. Konetski, 233 Ill.2d 185, 200, 330 Ill.Dec. 761, 909 N.E.2d 783 (2009).
¶ 4 "Under Illinois law, taxation is the rule. Tax exemption is the exception." Provena Covenant Medical Center v. Department of Revenue, 236 Ill.2d 368, 388, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131 (2010) (plurality opinion). Article IX of the Illinois Constitution "generally subjects all real property to taxation." Eden Retirement Center, Inc. v. Department of Revenue, 213 Ill.2d 273, 285, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240 (2004). "[T]he state's inherent power to tax is vested in the General Assembly. The legislature's power to tax is plenary; it is restricted only by the federal and state constitutions." Id. "The Illinois Constitution does not grant power to the legislature, but rather restricts the legislature's power to act." Id. at 284, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240.
¶ 5 Article IX, section 6, of the constitution provides, in relevant part:
¶ 6 "Section 6 is not self-executing. It merely authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation exempting certain property from taxation." Provena, 236 Ill.2d at 389, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131. "By designating the classes of property which may be exempted from taxation, section 6 of article IX has placed a restriction on the legislature's authority to exempt." Chicago Bar Ass'n v. Department of Revenue, 163 Ill.2d 290, 297, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166 (1994). "Accordingly, a property tax exemption created by statute cannot be broader than the provisions of the constitution, and no property except that mentioned in the exemption provisions of the constitution can be exempted by any laws passed by the legislature." Id. "While the General Assembly has no authority to grant exemptions beyond those authorized by section 6, it `may place restrictions, limitations, and conditions on [property tax] exemptions as may be proper by general law.'" Provena, 236 Ill.2d at 390, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131 (quoting North Shore Post No. 21 of the American Legion v. Korzen, 38 Ill.2d 231, 233, 230 N.E.2d 833, (1967)).
¶ 7 "One class of property that the legislature may exempt from taxation is property used for charitable purposes. Charitable use is a constitutional requirement. An applicant for a charitable-use property tax exemption must `comply unequivocally with the constitutional requirement of exclusive charitable use.'" (Emphasis in original.) Eden, 213 Ill.2d at 286-87, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240 (quoting Small v. Pangle, 60 Ill.2d 510, 516, 328 N.E.2d 285 (1975)). Illinois courts have held that a "property satisfies the exclusive-use requirement for tax exemption purposes if it is primarily used for the exempted purpose." (Emphasis in original.) Chicago Bar Ass'n, 163 Ill.2d at 300, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166. Illinois courts have also concluded that "a `hospital not owned by the State or any other municipal corporation, but which is open to all persons, regardless of race, creed or financial
¶ 8 The Illinois Supreme Court first found not-for-profit hospitals to qualify for charitable property tax exemptions in the 1907 decision of Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis v. Board of Review, 231 Ill. 317, 83 N.E. 272 (1907). In that case, the supreme court held that the hospital was an institution of public charity under a statutory predecessor to section 15-65, which granted property tax exemption to "`[a]ll property of institutions of public charity, when actually and exclusively used for such charitable purposes, not leased or otherwise used with a view to profit.'" Id. at 319, 83 N.E. 272 (quoting Ill. Rev. Stat. 1905, ch. 120, ¶ 2). The court discussed the purpose and work of the hospital as an institution of public charity.
¶ 9 The court rejected an argument about the disparity between the number of charity patients in comparison with the number of patients who paid for service.
¶ 10 Nearly a century later in Provena, the supreme court considered whether a hospital was entitled to the charitable property tax exemption under section 15-65 of the Code (35 ILCS 200/15-65 (West 2002)). Section 15-65 granted property tax exemption for institutions of public charity for the subject property "when actually and exclusively used for charitable or beneficent purposes." 35 ILCS 200/15-65(a) (West 2002). With two justices recusing, the majority of the court concluded that the hospital failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that it satisfied the requirements for the statutory charitable institution exemption. Provena, 236 Ill.2d at 393, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131. Specifically, the hospital failed to establish that "it dispensed charity to all who needed it and applied for it and did not appear to place any obstacles in the way of those
¶ 11 The supreme court explained the rationale behind providing exemptions for charitable institutions.
¶ 12 However, the justices disagreed on the question of charitable use. Id. at 412, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131 (Burke, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part, joined by Freeman, J.). The plurality of the court found the hospital's charitable care was de minimis, as the evidence presented failed to show that the hospital used the property at issue "actually and exclusively for charitable purposes." Id. at 397, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131 (plurality opinion). The plurality observed that while the hospital did not turn anyone away for treatment, it did not advertise its charity services and billed patients as a matter of course. Unpaid bills were referred to collection agencies. Discounts or waivers in costs were only made after it was established that the patient lacked private insurance, did not have Medicare or Medicaid, lacked the ability to pay, and had qualified for the hospital's charity program. Id. at 398, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131. The court had observed that in 2002, the hospital had "waived $1,758,940 in charges, representing an actual cost to it of only $831,724. This was equivalent to only 0.723% of PCMC's revenues for that year and was $268,276 less than the $1.1 million in tax benefits which [the hospital] stood to receive if its claim for a property tax exemption were granted." Id. at 381, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131. "[B]oth the number of uninsured patients receiving free or discounted care and the dollar value of the care they received were [de minimis]. With very limited exception, the property was devoted to the care and treatment of patients in exchange for compensation through private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, or direct payment from the patient or the patient's family." Id. at 397, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131.
¶ 13 Justice Burke dissented on the issue of charitable use, joined by Justice Freeman. In her dissent, Justice Burke wrote, "By imposing a quantum of care requirement and monetary threshold, the plurality is injecting itself into matters best left to the legislature." Id. at 412, 339 Ill.Dec. 10, 925 N.E.2d 1131 (Burke, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part, joined by Freeman, J.). The dissenting justices did not believe that
¶ 14 In response to the supreme court's decision in Provena, the General Assembly enacted section 15-86 (35 ILCS 200/15-86 (West 2012)), which is the statute at issue in this case. The General Assembly expressly discussed Provena and its intent behind the enactment of the statute. The General Assembly observed that "despite" the decision in Provena, "there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the test for charitable property tax exemption, especially regarding the application of a quantitative or monetary threshold." 35 ILCS 200/15-86(a)(1) (West 2012). The legislature further reasoned:
¶ 15 The General Assembly explicitly codified its intent in section 15-86 in the statutory text.
¶ 16 The crux of plaintiff's argument that section 15-86 is facially unconstitutional is one sentence in subsection (c) which quantifies the charitable exemption for the respective property. Section 15-86(c) provides, in relevant part:
¶ 17 Subsection (e) details the "[s]ervices that address the health care needs of low-income or underserved individuals or relieve the burden of government with regard to health care services." 35 ILCS 200/15-86(e) (West 2012). The subsection then lists the services and activities that would be considered in making the calculations
¶ 18 According to plaintiff, section 15-86(c) is unconstitutional on its face because "it creates a statutory standard for charitable exemption that conflicts with article IX, section 6 of the Illinois constitution." Plaintiff points out that section 15-86 does not mention explicitly the constitutional requirement of "exclusive" for charitable use. Plaintiff argues that the section 15-86 in operation would grant charitable exemption without regard to the constitutional requirement of exclusive charitable use so long as the hospital established that its value of the designated services or activities was equal or greater than the amount of property tax assessed for the subject property.
¶ 19 "`Facial invalidation "is, manifestly, strong medicine" that "has been employed by the court sparingly and only as a last resort."'" Pooh-Bah Enterprises, Inc. v. County of Cook, 232 Ill.2d 463, 473, 328 Ill.Dec. 892, 905 N.E.2d 781 (2009) (quoting National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley, 524 U.S. 569, 580, 118 S.Ct. 2168, 141 L.Ed.2d 500 (1998), quoting Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 613, 93 S.Ct. 2908, 37 L.Ed.2d 830 (1973)). "Statutes carry a strong presumption of constitutionality." Walker v. McGuire, 2015 IL 117138, ¶ 12, 396 Ill.Dec. 156, 39 N.E.3d 982. "To overcome this presumption, the party challenging the statute must clearly establish the statute's invalidity." Id. "This court has a duty to construe a statute in a manner that upholds its constitutionality, if reasonably possible to do so." Id.
¶ 20 "A statute is facially invalid only if there is no set of circumstances under which the statute would be valid." In re M.A., 2015 IL 118049, ¶ 39, 397 Ill.Dec. 759, 43 N.E.3d 86 (citing Napleton v. Village of Hinsdale, 229 Ill.2d 296, 305-06, 322 Ill.Dec. 548, 891 N.E.2d 839 (2008)). "The fact that a statute could be found unconstitutional under some circumstances does not establish its facial invalidity." Id. "Consequently, a facial challenge to the constitutionality of a legislative enactment is the most difficult challenge to mount successfully." Id. In contrast, an "as applied" constitutional challenge is limited to how the statute was applied in the plaintiff's specific circumstances. Id. ¶ 40. "If a plaintiff prevails in an `as applied' challenge, enforcement of the statute is enjoined only against the plaintiff, while a finding that a statute is facially unconstitutional voids the statute in its entirety and in all applications." Id.
¶ 21 Plaintiff contends that section 15-86 is facially unconstitutional because it mandates the issuance of a charitable exemption to property taxes if the requirements under subsection (c) are met. According to plaintiff, section 15-86(c) requires the exemption without consideration of whether the property at issue was exclusively for charitable purposes, as required under article IX, section 6, of the constitution. Plaintiff bases this argument on her interpretation
¶ 22 We reject plaintiff's interpretation that the legislature intended the word "shall" to be mandatory rather than directory in nature in section 15-86(c). The cardinal rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature. Hayashi v. Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, 2014 IL 116023, ¶ 16, 388 Ill.Dec. 878, 25 N.E.3d 570. The best evidence of legislative intent is the language of the statute, and when possible, the court should interpret the language of a statute according to its plain and ordinary meaning. Id. "In determining the plain meaning, we must consider the statute in its entirety, the subject it addresses, and the apparent intent of the legislature in enacting it." Id.
¶ 23 "A mandatory provision and a directory provision are both couched in obligatory language, but they differ in that noncompliance with a mandatory provision vitiates the governmental action, whereas noncompliance with a directory provision has no such effect." People v. Four Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,850) United States Currency, 2011 IL App (4th) 100528, ¶ 24, 352 Ill.Dec. 33, 952 N.E.2d 1259. Generally, the use of the word "shall" indicates a mandatory intent, but "in no case regarding the mandatory-directory dichotomy has `shall' controlled the outcome." People v. Robinson, 217 Ill.2d 43, 53, 298 Ill.Dec. 37, 838 N.E.2d 930 (2005). The designation of a statute as mandatory or directory "`simply denotes whether the failure to comply with a particular procedural step will or will not have the effect of invalidating the governmental action to which the procedural requirement relates.'" Id. at 51-52, 298 Ill.Dec. 37, 838 N.E.2d 930 (quoting Morris v. County of Marin, 18 Cal.3d 901, 136 Cal.Rptr. 251, 559 P.2d 606, 610-11 (1977) (en banc)).
¶ 24 Statutes are mandatory when the legislative intent dictates a particular consequence for failure to comply with the provision. People v. Delvillar, 235 Ill.2d 507, 514-15, 337 Ill.Dec. 207, 922 N.E.2d 330 (2009). "In the absence of such intent the statute is directory and no particular consequence flows from noncompliance. That is not to say, however, that there are no consequences. A directory reading acknowledges only that no specific consequence is triggered by the failure to comply with the statute." (Emphasis omitted.) Id. at 515, 337 Ill.Dec. 207, 922 N.E.2d 330.
¶ 25 The supreme court has held that "we presume that language issuing a procedural command to a government official indicates an intent that the statute is directory." Id. at 517, 337 Ill.Dec. 207, 922 N.E.2d 330. This presumption may be overcome by either of two conditions to show that provision is mandatory: first, "when there is negative language prohibiting further action in the case of noncompliance," or second, "when the right the provision is designed to protect would generally be injured under a directory reading." Id. (citing Robinson, 217 Ill.2d at 58, 298 Ill.Dec. 37, 838 N.E.2d 930).
¶ 26 Turning to the language of section 15-86(c), we find that the use of "shall" in this context is directory in nature. First, the section does not contain any negative language prohibiting noncompliance. No consequence is triggered by the failure to issue a charitable exemption under the language of section 15-86(c), and noncompliance with the statute offers no direct injury. Further, given the presumption that taxation is the rule, this statute is not protecting a right. Tax exemption is an exception, and section 15-86(c) directs the
¶ 27 We also find that our construction of section 15-86(c) as directory is in line with prior cases considering the issuance of charitable exemption from property taxes, such that statutes are considered alongside the constitutional requirements. The Illinois Supreme Court has consistently held that statutes detailing types of property subject to exemption are descriptive and illustrative of property that might qualify under the "exclusive" requirement of article IX, section 6, of the constitution.
¶ 28 In McKenzie v. Johnson, 98 Ill.2d 87, 74 Ill.Dec. 571, 456 N.E.2d 73 (1983), the plaintiff challenged section 19.1 of the Revenue Act of 1939 as facially unconstitutional for failing to comply with article IX, section 6, of the constitution. The statutory language at issue provided,
¶ 29 The supreme court upheld the statute as facially constitutional, finding that "the legislature's addition of the sentence referring to fraternities was merely a description or illustration of another type of property that might qualify, under appropriate circumstances, as property used exclusively for school purposes." Id. at 101, 74 Ill.Dec. 571, 456 N.E.2d 73. The plaintiff challenged the statute on the basis that fraternities and sororities are exclusively social organizations and cannot be used "exclusively" for charitable purposes, as required under the constitution. The supreme court held that it could not say that "school-owned fraternity houses per se may never qualify for a property tax exemption as property used exclusively for school purposes. The availability of the exemption depends on questions of fact such as how students become eligible to use the facility, and no such evidence has been presented in this facial challenge to the statute." Id. at 102, 74 Ill.Dec. 571, 456 N.E.2d 73.
¶ 30 In Chicago Bar Ass'n v. Department of Revenue, 163 Ill.2d 290, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166 (1994), the supreme court considered the constitutionality of another portion of section 19.1. In that case, the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) had sought a finding that its new headquarters adjacent to the John Marshall Law School was exempt from property taxes. The CBA based its claim on the following language from section 19.1, which granted an exemption for school property,
¶ 31 The Department denied the CBA's request for an exemption. The circuit court affirmed the denial and held that portion of section 19.1 was unconstitutional on its face because it exceeded the scope of the school exemption provided in article IX,
¶ 32 On appeal, the supreme court considered the circuit court's conclusion that portion of section 19.1 was facially unconstitutional. The supreme court observed that the circuit court reasoned that the "adjacent property" clause of section 19.1 violated the constitution by expanding the provisions set forth in the constitution requiring exclusive use. Under the circuit court's interpretation, "it would allow an exemption for property adjacent to a school, provided the various statutory conditions have been satisfied, even though the adjacent property was not, itself, used `exclusively for * * * school * * * purposes' as article IX, section 6, requires." Id. at 298, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166. "If the circuit court's construction of the statute were accepted, its conclusion would be correct. The `adjacent property' clause of section 19.1 would be invalid on its face. In our view, however, the circuit court's analysis does not adequately consider that when evaluating the constitutionality of a legislative enactment, a court must presume that the statute is constitutional." Id.
¶ 33 The supreme court did not believe that "the `adjacent property' clause of section 19.1 should be construed as eliminating the requirement that property must in fact be used exclusively for school purposes in order to qualify for an exemption under section 6 of article IX (Ill. Const. 1970, art. IX, § 6). The language of the clause identifies the property entitled to the school exemption as `including' property adjacent to school which has certain specified characteristics." Id. The court continued by considering the portion at issue in previous cases.
See also McKenzie, 98 Ill.2d at 96-97, 74 Ill.Dec. 571, 456 N.E.2d 73; MacMurray College v. Wright, 38 Ill.2d 272, 277-78, 230 N.E.2d 846 (1967) (finding that a clause in section 19.1 addressing dormitories was descriptive and illustrative, "not with a declaratory intendment," and the statute did not remove the burden of establishing "exclusive[]" for school purposes under the constitution).
¶ 34 The supreme court reiterated that "[t]he primary use of property, not its incidental uses, determines its tax-exempt status." Chicago Bar Ass'n, 163 Ill.2d at 300, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166. "There is no inherent reason why property which is adjacent to a school and which otherwise meets the conditions of section 19.1 cannot conform to this standard. Some parcels may well qualify as being used `exclusively for * * * school * * * purposes' as the constitution requires, while others will not. Whether a given piece of property is exempt will turn on the evidence showing how it is used." Id.
¶ 35 The supreme court concluded that the circuit court erred in finding section 19.1 to be unconstitutional on its face but agreed with its decision to affirm the Department's decision to deny an exemption to the CBA. Id. "The circuit court noted
¶ 36 However, the supreme court found this assumption to be in error, noting that "[w]hether particular property is used `exclusively for * * * school * * * purposes' within the meaning of the constitution is a matter for the courts, and not the legislature, to ascertain." Id. at 301, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166. "The legislature cannot, by its enactment, make that a school purpose which is not in fact a school purpose." Id. "Each individual claim must be determined from the facts presented. In applying the law to the facts, the court must be mindful that taxation is the rule. Tax exemption is the exception. Article IX, section 6 [citation], and any statutes enacted under its provisions must be resolved in favor of taxation." Id. The court found that the property primarily served as a place for members to meet, and any educational use was secondary and incidental. Accordingly, the court concluded that the exemption was properly denied. Id. at 302, 206 Ill.Dec. 113, 644 N.E.2d 1166.
¶ 37 In subsequent decisions considering the requirements of exclusive use requirements of article IX, section 6, in tandem with the statutes enacted by the General Assembly, the supreme court maintained that the constitutional requirement is paramount. As we previously observed, "[c]haritable use is a constitutional requirement. An applicant for a charitable-use property tax exemption must `comply unequivocally with the constitutional requirement of exclusive charitable use.'" (Emphasis in original.) Eden, 213 Ill.2d at 287, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240 (quoting Small, 60 Ill.2d at 516, 328 N.E.2d 285).
¶ 38 The Eden court examined whether a nursing home was eligible for a property tax exemption under section 15-65 of the Code. Section 15-65 exempts a specific list of property from tax "when actually and exclusively used for charitable or beneficent purposes," including
¶ 39 The Department had denied the exemption, which the circuit and appellate court set aside. The lower courts found that the plaintiff qualified for the charitable use property tax exemption based "solely on plaintiff's (1) exemption from federal income taxes, and (2) bylaw provision allowing for the reduction or waiver of charges based on residents' inability to pay." Eden, 213 Ill.2d at 289, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240. The supreme court found this analysis to be erroneous, as it failed to consider the constitutional requirements under article IX, section 6.
The supreme court further reasoned that "the legislature was free to include in section 15-65(c) of the Property Tax Code a requirement that the facility be exempt from federal income tax. However, a federal income tax exemption does not provide material facts about exclusive charitable use of property required by section 6 of article IX of the Illinois Constitution, and does not determine the constitutional issue." Id. at 291, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240.
¶ 40 The supreme court in Eden also observed that section 15-65 included the constitutional requirement of exclusive use for charitable purposes in the opening of the section. The court found that the plain language of the statute conforms to article IX, section 6, of the constitution. Id. at 292, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240.
¶ 41 In the present case, we acknowledge that section 15-86 does not contain the constitutional language relating to the exclusive use for charitable purposes set forth in article IX, section 6. However, as the Eden court stated, "[i]t is equally familiar that `a court presumes that the legislature intended to enact a constitutional statute. Accordingly, a court will construe a statute as constitutional, if it is reasonable to do so. [Citation.] If a statute's construction is doubtful, a court will resolve the doubt in favor of the statute's validity.'" Id. at 291-92, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240 (quoting Bonaguro v. County Officers Electoral Board, 158 Ill.2d 391, 397, 199 Ill.Dec. 659, 634 N.E.2d 712 (1994)).
¶ 42 The General Assembly heeded the supreme court's decision in Eden while drafting section 15-86. The legislative intent codified in section 15-86(a) directly references language used by the Eden court.
¶ 43 It is clear that the General Assembly did not intend for satisfaction of section 15-86 to ipso facto grant an exemption, as the supreme court in Eden held the legislature cannot do. Rather, the General Assembly intended for the requirements of section 15-86 to be considered on a case-by-case basis, along with the constitutional requirements. Moreover, "[u]nder the doctrine of in pari materia, two legislative acts that address the same subject are considered with reference to one another, so that they may be given harmonious effect." Citizens Opposing Pollution v. ExxonMobil Coal U.S.A., 2012 IL 111286, ¶ 24, 357 Ill.Dec. 55, 962 N.E.2d 956. "The doctrine is consistent with our acknowledgment that one of the fundamental principles of statutory construction is to view all of the provisions of a statute as a whole." Id.
¶ 44 Under section 15-65, the legislature had included "institutions of public charity" as one of the types of property exempted from taxes. 35 ILCS 200/15-65(a) (West 2012). The General Assembly noted in section 15-86(a)(5) that the statute was intended to create "a new category of ownership for charitable property tax exemption to be applied to not-for-profit hospitals and
¶ 45 We do not believe the absence of language indicating that the property must be used exclusively for charitable purposes in accordance with article IX, section 6, of the constitution alters our interpretation. "Where the intent of the legislature is otherwise clear, the judiciary possesses the authority to read language into a statute which has been omitted through legislative oversight." Wade v. City of North Chicago Police Pension Board, 226 Ill.2d 485, 510, 315 Ill.Dec. 772, 877 N.E.2d 1101 (2007). "When a literal interpretation of a statutory term would lead to consequences that the legislature could not have contemplated and surely did not intend, this court will give the statutory language a reasonable interpretation." Id. We decline to read section 15-86 literally such that absence of any exclusivity language suggests that the statute was meant to be read separate from the constitutional requirement. Given the inclusion of such language in section 15-65, we believe the General Assembly meant for the construction of section 15-86 to be under the constitutional requirements. Further, since section 15-86 created a new category of ownership in addition to those listed in section 15-65, it logically follows we could read the exclusive language from section 15-65 as applicable to section 15-86. Thus, any error in the absence of this exclusivity language was a mere legislative oversight and does not negate its compliance with the constitutional requirements of exclusive use for charitable purposes.
¶ 46 Based on our analysis of constitutional principles, supreme court case law, and the language of the legislature, we conclude that section 15-86 is facially constitutional. Under the guidelines of cases discussed above, we decline to interpret section 15-86 in such a way that its application negates the constitutional requirement. The Illinois Supreme Court has consistently found that statutes detailing property tax exemption were descriptive and illustrative of property that may qualify under the constitutional requirements of exclusive use. "Charitable use is a constitutional requirement." (Emphasis in original.) Eden, 213 Ill.2d at 287, 290 Ill.Dec. 189, 821 N.E.2d 240. The operation of section
¶ 47 Moreover, even if we agreed with plaintiff's interpretation that section 15-86 required the issuance of a charitable exemption based only on the satisfaction of the statute, plaintiff cannot sustain her burden that section 15-86 is facially unconstitutional under the no-set-of-circumstances test. While it is conceivable that a hospital may be able to satisfy the requirements of section 15-86 but not article IX, section 6, of the constitution, that is not the test in Illinois. As we have previously observed, the supreme court has held that a "statute is facially invalid only if there is no set of circumstances under which the statute would be valid." In re M.A., 2015 IL 118049, ¶ 39, 397 Ill.Dec. 759, 43 N.E.3d 86. "The fact that a statute could be found unconstitutional under some circumstances does not establish its facial invalidity." Id. Plaintiff concedes that it is "hypothetically possible" for a hospital to satisfy the requirements of section 15-86(c), in that the provided services and activities listed in subsection (e) equaled or exceeded the estimated property tax liability, and used its property exclusively for charitable purposes under article IX, section 6, of the constitution. We cannot say that a hospital applicant per se may not satisfy the requirement of section 15-86 with property used exclusively for charitable purposes. See McKenzie, 98 Ill.2d at 102, 74 Ill.Dec. 571, 456 N.E.2d 73. As both the General Assembly and the supreme court have noted, that analysis is left to the courts on a case-by-case basis. Thus, section 15-86 is facially constitutional, and the trial court properly granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants.
¶ 48 We acknowledge that plaintiff relied on the Fourth District's recent decision in Carle Foundation v. Cunningham Township, 2016 IL App (4th) 140795, 399 Ill.Dec. 183, 45 N.E.3d 1173, appeal allowed, 401 Ill.Dec. 656, 50 N.E.3d 1138 (2016), for support. In that case, the Fourth District concluded that section 15-86 was unconstitutional on its face. For the reasons discussed in our decision, we have reached a different conclusion and respectfully disagree with the court's decision.
¶ 49 Based on the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the circuit court of Cook County.
¶ 50 Affirmed.
Justices Howse and Rochford concurred in the judgment and opinion.