To: Board of Supervisors
From: Thomas Geiger, County Counsel
Report Title: AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH BAKER & O’BRIEN, INC. FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Counsel, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County, an amendment with Baker & O'Brien, Inc., to increase the payment limit by $100,000, to a new payment limit of $700,000, with no change to the term, to provide refining industry analyses in connection with refinery property tax appeals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% General Fund. The cost of this contract will be partially offset by revenue generated by Property Tax Administration Charges.
BACKGROUND:
Baker & O'Brien, Inc. is a consultant for refinery industry analyses and provides the County with specialized consulting services with respect to the refining industry and refineries in defending actual and anticipated assessment appeals, which challenge the valuations of the taxable property of refineries in Contra Costa County. These appeals typically place several billion dollars of valuation at issue. Assistance is required because valuations of refineries are highly technical, requiring specialized knowledge that only industry experts have. The Assessor concurs with and supports this recommendation.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the contract is not approved, there is a greatly increased possibility of very significant but presently unquantifiable impacts due to adverse decisions by the Assessment Appeals Board on large refinery valuation disputes.
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I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. |
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ATTESTED: |
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Monica Nino, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors |
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By: |
cc: Rebecca Hooley, Assistant County Counsel; Bob Campbell, Auditor-Controller; Peter Yu, Assessor’s Office