Diane Trautman for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector



Tax Assessor Candidate Diane Trautman Opposes Unearned Valero Tax Break Houston, TX-Tax Assessor Collector Candidate Diane Trautman is urging Harris County residents to express their opposition to the unearned tax break sought by Valero. Valero is asking the state for a full property tax break on equipment at five refineries across Texas. But Trautman contends that Valero's equipment does not meet the requirements to receive this tax credit and she is concerned that Valero's request will shift an unacceptable level of tax burden on local residents as local governments are tightening their belts. "Harris County is in a hiring freeze, HISD is laying off teachers, and business owners are now feeling the effects of the Governor's tax hike on small businesses," Trautman said. "We want Valero to profit and do business in Texas. But we cannot allow them to avoid paying their fair share of taxes through some slight of hand accounting. To do so harms individual tax payers and small business owners putting our shaky household economies in an even worse position." Tax breaks are available for companies that purchase equipment to decrease harmful emissions at their facilities. While Valero has taken the step to hydrotreat their equipment, which removes sulfur in the production of gasoline and diesel, this does not meet the criteria for a full property tax break from the state of Texas and state regulators say emissions will actually increase at Valero's facilities. Valero's request takes an overly liberal stance on what constitutes the purchase of new equipment to reduce pollution. And, at the end of the day, taxpayers will have the same amount of pollution in their communities and an even greater tax bill. "What I find most troubling about this whole affair is that TCEQ Commissioners recommended denying Valero's request on the merits of their argument," Trautman continued. "But then they said they would give Valero a tax break anyway. There doesn't seem to be any accountability to the taxpayer whatsoever. And that's just wrong." Paid political ad by Diane Trautman Campaign, P. O. Box 6067, Kingwood, TX 77325 Copyright 2005-2010 ©. All Rights Reserved.

Tax Assessor Candidate Diane Trautman Opposes Unearned Valero Tax Break

Houston, TX-Tax Assessor Collector Candidate Diane Trautman is urging Harris County residents to express their opposition to the unearned tax break sought by Valero. Valero is asking the state for a full property tax break on equipment at five refineries across Texas. But Trautman contends that Valero's equipment does not meet the requirements to receive this tax credit and she is concerned that Valero's request will shift an unacceptable level of tax burden on local residents as local governments are tightening their belts.

"Harris County is in a hiring freeze, HISD is laying off teachers, and business owners are now feeling the effects of the Governor's tax hike on small businesses," Trautman said. "We want Valero to profit and do business in Texas. But we cannot allow them to avoid paying their fair share of taxes through some slight of hand accounting. To do so harms individual tax payers and small business owners putting our shaky household economies in an even worse position."

Tax breaks are available for companies that purchase equipment to decrease harmful emissions at their facilities. While Valero has taken the step to hydrotreat their equipment, which removes sulfur in the production of gasoline and diesel, this does not meet the criteria for a full property tax break from the state of Texas and state regulators say emissions will actually increase at Valero's facilities. Valero's request takes an overly liberal stance on what constitutes the purchase of new equipment to reduce pollution. And, at the end of the day, taxpayers will have the same amount of pollution in their communities and an even greater tax bill.

"What I find most troubling about this whole affair is that TCEQ Commissioners recommended denying Valero's request on the merits of their argument," Trautman continued. "But then they said they would give Valero a tax break anyway. There doesn't seem to be any accountability to the taxpayer whatsoever. And that's just wrong."