LAPLACE – Bubbie Anderson, division manager, and Dan Ehrhart, division controller, of Marathon Petroleum Company’s Louisiana Refining Division in Garyville presented checks for Marathon’s 2012 property taxes totaling approximately $24.1 million to St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff and Ex-Officio Tax Collector Mike Tregre.
The payment is an increase of $5.7 million over the previous year, and represents approximately 50 percent of the total property taxes collected by St. John Parish this year. In addition to property taxes, Marathon’s sales and use tax payments to the parish are estimated at $11.5 million for 2012.
Marathon’s contribution to the parish is not limited to the amount of taxes paid. The refinery also conducts business with more than 100 local merchants and suppliers, and generates a significant amount of employment for area residents. Marathon directly employs approximately 850 full-time employees in its refinery operations and an additional 40-50 employees in its terminal, pipeline, and other support activities. In addition, approximately 650 full-time contract employees work at the plant daily.