in part:
Valero could potentially get a refund of more than $92 million, but company spokesman Bill Day said executives believe the final refund would be much smaller. He said appraisers will probably estimate the value of refinery properties below the amount submitted by the company.
There is no timeline for a ruling. The slow pace of the decision has put municipalities and school districts in the position of collecting and spending money they could be forced to return.
Schools alone could be forced to fork over $62.8 million, according to data compiled by the AP.
In smaller, more rural counties -- where property taxes from heavy industry provide a big chunk of funding for schools and government services -- the effect could be even greater. For example, in Moore County, where a Valero refinery is seeking two exemptions, a $15.8 million refund would amount to more than $720 per person.
"If it was a good year and property values were up, it wouldn't be so bad," said Hugh Landrom Jr., president of Hugh Landrom and Associates, an engineering firm that does industrial appraisals for Galveston and other counties that are home to large refineries and chemical plants.
But the pain is "compounded by the state budget cuts that are being passed down to everybody," Landrom said.
If the abatements are approved, all Texas schools would be affected. Refinery towns would be hurt the most.
"The dollars that are lost by these school districts directly affect the children of the employees that help make these companies what they are," said David Hodgins, consultant and attorney for the Texas Association of School Administrators.
The Pasadena schools will have to refund $11.3 million to two refineries, according to the AP analysis.
The school where the Gonzales children attend class has laid off eight staff members and is asking parents to donate money to pay for basketballs, volleyballs and even gloves for the science teachers.
The Valero spokesman insisted the refund would not "be a disaster."
"I guarantee you, it's not a surprise to the school districts," Day said. "Yes, they spent the money. Yes, we're asking for an abatement on our pollution-control equipment. ... But this is really no different than a homeowner appealing their property tax, just on a larger scale."
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_18983278
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