On Tuesday evening, the Richmond City Council will decide whether there is a tax measure for the refinery.
The proposal calls for a business tax of $1.00 per barrel of refined oil in the city, which could add up to $60 million to $90 million a year in revenue.
Residents wonder whether such a tax is a good idea.
Sandy Saeteurn has lived in Richmond most of her life and now raises her family here.
“My 10-year-old, 14-month-old son was diagnosed with cancer, and so I know that living here in Richmond, the refineries certainly impact the health of the community,” Saeteurn said.
That’s why she got involved with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network Action Committee, and now with the tax measure to collect one dollar from the refineries for every barrel of oil they process in the city.
“This ‘Polluters Pay Measure’ is very important for them to give back to the community in all the ways we need and to be a good neighbor and support services like clean air and clean water,” Saeteurn said .
Oscar Garcia is a board member of the 23rd Street Merchant’s Association. He said the way the current tax measure is written, any money collected from the refineries simply goes into the general fund and the city council can spend it as it sees fit.
“They could potentially use this money for pet projects that won’t benefit the average Richmond resident,” Garcia said.
Currently, about 40% of the city’s tax revenue is generated by the Chevron Richmond refinery. In a statement, Chevron said: “This is a punitive tax that could be used to fund pet projects of the activist council members who put it forward and was written without any accountability for how they spend it. We need policies that encourages and increases employment.” and improve air quality. This tax will do the opposite.”
Saeteurn states that it is actually more beneficial to have the tax go to the general fund.
“We don’t want to write something that will be outdated in five, 10 years and doesn’t give us flexibility for what the community needs at those times,” she said.
If the council approves the tax measure tonight, it will come during the November general election for Richmond residents. A simple majority is required to accept the proposal.
