$4.8 Million Sought in O.C. Tax Appeals : Revenue: Supervisors are expected to set aside funds today to meet claims filed by some of the county’s biggest companies on grounds of declining property values.

Orange County officials are expected to set aside $4.8 million today to settle property tax disputes brought by some of the county’s biggest corporate residents.

Rockwell International and Hughes Aircraft Co. are seeking the largest refunds--totaling $2.1 million--from taxes paid by the companies this year.

The tax claims have almost become annual rites of spring during the last four years in Orange County, which--like the rest of California--has suffered continuing declines in the value of commercial and residential properties. During that time, thousands of businesses and residents have filed appeals with the county seeking corresponding reductions on their property tax bills.

Today, the county Board of Supervisors will decide whether to reserve the $4.8 million for payment of the pending appeals filed by 18 local firms, which also include the Irvine Co., Hyundai Motor America and the Marriott Corp.

The money to be placed on reserve this year is about $8 million less than last year, when county officials were deluged with property tax appeals, reflecting the lowest point of the local real estate bust.

Jan Grimes, the county auditor-controller’s general accounting manager, said this year’s decrease in settlement claims is probably due to mass revaluations of local properties.

Last summer, Assessor Bradley L. Jacobs was urged by county supervisors to respond more quickly to the concerns of businesses and residents about the declining real estate market.

“I think the number of property value adjustments are catching up and have made for less disputes in the current year,” Grimes said.