The E-FORUM stringer at the Contra Costa County Supervisors Chamber just reported that the Assessment Appeals Board surprised a lot of people by actually increasing Chevron’s valuation for years 2007-2009, as follows:

• 2007 increased from $3.413 billion to $3.713 billion
• 2008 increased from $3.430 billion to $4.450 billion
• 2009 increased from $3.105 billion to $3.793 billion

Decision on Chevron appeal of Contra Costa County property tax bill set for Monday
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times
Posted:   04/02/2012 08:37:55 AM PDT
Updated:   04/02/2012 08:38:35 AM PDT

A Contra Costa County property assessment appeals board will release its decision Monday on Chevron's challenge of its Richmond refinery values.
The oil giant seeks refunds worth up to $73 million in property taxes it paid from 2007 through 2009, or slightly more than half of what the company was assessed.
The county and cities, along with fire, parks and other dozens of other special districts, will bear the burden of any repayment at a time when most public agencies have already experienced years of declining budgets.
The three-member appeals board heard dozens of hours of testimony over the winter on the complex challenge from the county's largest payer of property taxes.
Chevron argued that Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer and his staff failed to document how they derived the values and intentionally miscalculated the final numbers.
In response, Kramer accused the oil company of systematically bullying the county with unsubstantiated and costly appeals and lawsuits in an effort to lower its taxes.
If the board sides with Chevron, it will be the corporation's second victory in its nearly eight-year fight with Kramer over the refinery's taxable worth.
The panel in 2010 ordered a repayment of $17.8 million on the refinery's 2004-06 appeal, a figure far short of what the company sought. Chevron subsequently filed a lawsuit, which is still pending.
Chevron also has appealed its 2010 and 2011 property values.
Refinery spokesman Dean O'Hair said the company remains eager to negotiate with the county a settlement of all the appeals and the lawsuit.
If the appeals board orders a refund, O'Hair said, Chevron will work with the county to minimize the financial impact on the public agencies, including a phased-in repayment schedule and a waiver of interest.
The public hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the county administration building, 651 Pine St., Martinez.