Refiners seek mega tax breaks

Officials in Northern California must choose--lower gas prices or money for schools?

Even as gas prices creep past $3 a gallon in California and the petroleum industry reaps billions in profits, four of the Bay Area's five refineries want property tax breaks totaling $44 million.

Chevron in Richmond, Shell in Martinez, ConocoPhillips in Rodeo and Valero in Benicia argue they should pay millions less in taxes because county officials have overestimated the value of their sprawling refineries, artificially inflating their property taxes. They want appeals boards in Contra Costa and Solano counties to cut their tax burden, with Chevron seeking the largest reduction -- $21 million.

While refinery executives say they simply want a reasonable and fair assessment of their land, local governments and school districts that stand to loose millions of dollars mince no words in their criticism.

Exactly how much schools and cities could lose is unknown, but those directly in the shadows of the refineries are already preparing for delayed construction projects, from new roofs for schools to postponed upkeep for athletic fields