Surprise! A 3-cent gasoline tax to hit May 1
The Savannah Morning News has this gem about a hidden, 3-cent increase in the gasoline tax that will kick in on May 1:
The tax in Georgia is a flat 7.5-cents per gallon, plus an amount based on price. The part based on price is set on Jan. 1 and July 1 and goes up between those dates when the price of gas rises by more than 25 percent.
The price of gas has risen by more than 25 percent lately.
The rate of 10.1 cents per gallon that was set on Jan. 1 will go up to 12.9 cents per gallon on May 1, an increase of 2.8 cents, said Ken Heaghney, Georgia’s fiscal economist.“It’s tied to the sales price,” said Brian Robinson, the governor’s spokesman. “It’s an automatic thing. The state didn’t vote to raise taxes.”
When gasoline prices were climbing in the summer of 2008, then-Gov. Sonny Perdue issued an executive order freezing the tax rate, saying he couldn’t justify raising taxes on gas when so many families were struggling.
Can customers expect a repeat from Gov. Nathan Deal?
Not likely.“The governor believes an action like this, barring a state of emergency, is best taken in coordination with an act of legislation because it does have fiscal impact,” Robinson said.
“It’s not responsible to take that risk for a 3-cent tax issue,” Robinson said.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
249 comments Add your comment
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
April 21st, 2011
5:56 pm
Simple economics: The price of gas is going up, like nearly everything else, because our currency is being debased/inflated from the “Wall Street Bailout’s” printing of trillions of new dollar bills to shore up the failing unconstitutional “Federal” Reserve Bank John Kennedy’s Exec. Order 11,110 ended, and to enrich the “Government” Sachs crowd fascisticly running our government in conjunction with the Fifth Column treasonous faction which financed the rise of Nazism; assassinated Pres. Kennedy and Dr. King to send us to die in papal Vietnam; and cheated a homosexual (lover’s name is James Guckert – look it up) draft-dodger into the WH to commit 9/11 (Viz. “The New Pearl Harbor,” Griffin, Ph.D. – Read it, it’s a free download from Google Scholar).
To top it all off, the draft-dodging, “My Pet Goat”-reading closet-queen, whose administration had Tennessee Trash Stanley McChrystal’s black ops unit drill three rounds into Pat Tillman’s forehead within the circumference of a half-dollar coin, now owns the gas and diesel tank-farm distribution network once owned by the Queen of England and the Rockefellers (for whom Bushes have fronted since Standard Oil was “built” on unredressed “murder and arson” in 1870’s Cleveland).
Nice “tip” for “giving” them all that Iraqi oil and re-starting the Afghan heroin trade with our blood, eh?
Hmmm…Who are the “locals” not doing anything about the overt treason in Washington…and in fact laying greater taxes onto the wronged People? The Demublicans AND the Republicrats: the best “government” money can buy.
Ventura 2012
Death for Treason
Annuit Coeptis
Seems the Egyptians are acting like better Americans than we are.
Last Man Standing
April 21st, 2011
5:59 pm
Centrist:
“More than 100 drilling rigs in the Gulf lie idle (along with all of those jobs).”
If my memory is working, that is about 70,000 unemployed because of Hussein’s Department of the Interior.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
April 21st, 2011
6:01 pm
Pumping oil from the Gulf has nothing to do with our having failed to hang Bush and Cheney for treason.
More tax sludge
April 21st, 2011
6:01 pm
What ever happens to the rich on the federal level will trickle down to the middle and lower classes at the state level. No one is spared from the tax sludge thrown against the backs of citizens.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
April 21st, 2011
6:02 pm
The spiraling concentration of wealth now taking place in America puts the lie to your assertion “mts.”
Last Man Standing
April 21st, 2011
6:03 pm
Will:
Did you forget to take your meds again? I think I saw the black helicopters headed your way . . .
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
April 21st, 2011
6:05 pm
“Ad hominem” when you got nothing else, eh Limbaugh-good-buddy?
Wondering
April 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
All of you protesting the high taxes in Georgia, leave. This is the second lowest state in the country for per capita taxes. Our DOT turned in the worst report on its road quality in several decades and the reason is the low amount collected through the gas tax. I frankly want them to collect the tax and fix the roads. Its cheaper than the major car repair bills due to poor roads.
As for those still without jobs, why are you using so much gas? I hear the rumors about the unemployed that are working under the table. That is the type of thing that hurts the law abiding taxpayer. Not a 2.8 cent per gallon increase that effectively allows the DOT to purchase gas for its own purposes. Yes, their costs have risen as well.
And another thing …
flat broke
April 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
We gotta help out Obama n’ em!!
Thomas
April 21st, 2011
6:10 pm
My business that requires transportation of goods to market will be affected when the State raises the tax on fuel by 2.8 cents but as always the consumer will pay in the end because I am going to raise my price by 3 cents on the goods to cover the States pro-business agenda.
Donaldo
April 21st, 2011
6:15 pm
Just want to remind you that all this talk about gas prices occurred after our leader, Mr. O, took us into Libya. Guess, no one was concerned about the unintended consequences….they are what they are until each of us demands more from our leaders..right now…it appears we can not agree to disagree…a sad state…one that can be manipulated folks. Wake up!!
N....
April 21st, 2011
6:15 pm
Bobby…..don’t forget the helicopter he so often takes from Captial Hill to the Governors mansion…He doesn’t care about us. OMG I hate to see that thing firing up in the afternoon and landing in the mornings. It just burns me up to see him taking advantage of our tax dollars. Why doesn’t he ride MARTA???!!!!!
janet
April 21st, 2011
6:28 pm
I would like to see $1.00 per gallon tax and all of that extra money spent on mass transit. Right now we borrow money from China so we can pay Saudi Arabia for our oil Both of those countries hate the USA. China, India are building state of the art rapid rail. The cost of fuel isn’t about who is not drilling off of the shores of the US but because of incresed demand by the emerging middle classes in China, India and Brazil. The 3 major emerging economies want it now. The oil companies would have you think that it is about supply . It is about demand and we need to find alternative sources of energy (not ethanol- that is a complete joke and a subsidy to our corn farmers who don’t need another one) so that we are can tell Saudi Arabia to take a hike in the desert. I will never forget the photo of Pres Bush holding hands with his Saudi prince friend. That was not just a photo op or a symbolic gesture. That was 2 oil greased hands joining together for the downfall of this country. Ever wonder why Cheney held secret energy talks at the White House and refused to disclose who attended and what they discussed?
Last Man Standing
April 21st, 2011
6:29 pm
N….
“Why doesn’t he ride MARTA???!!!!!”
Maybe he heard about the attack that took place on MARTA, isn’t “packing heat” and is worried about lawsuits if he “hit” an innocent bystander?
Monglorp
April 21st, 2011
6:29 pm
This is just one more reason to vote out every last one of them!
Aquagirl
April 21st, 2011
6:35 pm
Centrist, a direct quote from the article:
“The Gulf provides about 30 percent of US Oil production.”
And that’s ALL the gulf not just deepwater production.
That’s right the ENTIRE gulf, including rigs in two feet of water or two thousand. Now, why do you think 70% of our oil comes from deepwater gulf rigs? Are you still celebrating 4/20? That would be the kindest explanation for why you’re babbling such obvious idiocy. Being a completely gullible tool for Glenn Beck types would be more likely, but I’m feeling charitable today.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
April 21st, 2011
6:36 pm
China doesn’t hate the U.S.. The “Empire” wants to “divide and conquer” us by sowing hatred for them the same way it did with Russia…America’s natural ally against Rome and the Knights of Malta: two of their hated tzars were members.
Centrist
April 21st, 2011
6:44 pm
@ Aquagirl
Deep water Gulf production is the biggest single domestic source for the U.S. It is down 20% since the embargo and lack of drilling permits. Since the U.S. is the biggest consumre or oil, this is having an affect on world oil prices and the cost of U.S. gasoline. That is the thrust of this blog.
Calling me names and trying to link me to Glenn Beck does not help you win debate points. I sometimes agree with you on your arguments over right wing politics, but your debating style hurts your credibility.
Aquagirl
April 21st, 2011
6:55 pm
Centrist—for god’s sake YOU just linked to an article saying:
“The Gulf provides about 30 percent of U.S. oil production, and 11 percent of daily natural gas output.”
…And you still say deepwater Gulf production accounts for 70% of our oil production.
Please, spare me the concern-troll blather about my credibility. Focus that energy on improving your literacy and the kind of basic math that teaches you part of 30% does not equal 70%, even when you repeat it like a brain-damaged parrot. (No offense intended to brain-damaged parrots for the comparison.)
double
April 21st, 2011
6:58 pm
Will you are on target.Few realize who runs this country.
Centrist
April 21st, 2011
6:59 pm
Aquagirl – you have a hard time comprehending. Being the largest single source is a plurality – not a majority. Focusing on the semantics and not the result, along with your insults has so disconnected your posts that I will ignore them in the future.
gatorman770
April 21st, 2011
7:03 pm
I’ve always thought the very idea of the pending new regional sales tax for transportation that will be charged on everything we buy in lieu of just fuel sucked. Georgia has one of the lowest fuel tax and it should be increased a few cents to fund transportation improvements instead of taxing every friggin’ item we buy! I’ll be voting “Hell No” when the regional transportation comes to vote next election.
double
April 21st, 2011
7:03 pm
About 40% oil is domestic.Next Canada,Mexico,Saudia Arabia,then several smaller % are imported.
Aquagirl
April 21st, 2011
7:12 pm
Centrist, that’s the most pathetic attempt at saving face I’ve ever seen. And there’s been a lot of them among you talk-radio zombies.
Ignoring me would be the smart move, since every future reply would include “THE GULF PROVIDES ABOUT 30% OF U.S. OIL PRODUCTION.” That would remind me you are capable of shameless denalism. I know, it’s all the rage amongst your friends. It’s not even considered abnormal or illogical thinking, as long as you can blame some democrat/liberal/whoever you hate today.
I do, however, reserve the right to post this to other people, who might mistake you, however momentarily, for someone with the slightest connection to reality. Such a display of dumb@$$ery is absolutely priceless.
Big Spender
April 21st, 2011
7:33 pm
I love my big beautiful gas guzzler that I have to fill up every couple days to live in the burbs! Have fun on Marta concrete pounders! LOL
Bubba
April 21st, 2011
7:41 pm
OH MY GOD three sents, I cant afford my gas anymore please guvernor deal save me! I need to drive my huge Lexus SUV all over the suburbs because I chose not to live close to a MARTA station and 25 miles away from my wurk. But I can afford such a bigger house way out here in Cumming and it only takes me one hour each way to drive to wurk
retiredds
April 21st, 2011
8:00 pm
None of you better drive in other parts of the world where gas is $8-$9/gallon (Canada for example), and has been for years. Your government subsidy is working for you, so don’t cry about a measly 3 cents/gallon.
If anyone had been paying attention to the (world) demand-side of the equation you would realize there is no way gas prices can go down. Gas is a commodity folks and the price is set in the FREE market, isn’t that what all the libertarians and conservative Republicans have been screaming about. Let the market set the prices of everything. So there you have it, live with it.
JACKIE
April 21st, 2011
8:01 pm
the increase should be at least a quarter.People are going to pay it anyway and we could build some awesome roads.
Kay
April 21st, 2011
8:08 pm
Considering that those who buy gas use the road and contribute to the wear and tear as well as the congestion, doesn’t it make sense to apply a tax to gasoline? Do you expect to use a road and not be required to contribute to the upkeep or improvement to it? DOT’s budget is paid for by gas tax revenue, and the current administration’s quest to force us to buy feul efficient cars will actually decrease the amount of tax collected because less gas will be purchased in the long run.
I consider myself part of the tea party movement, but a certain level of taxation is necessary to fund and maintain transportation. We get a good deal for the money we pay.
And Alicia, what the Governor’s spokesman said was that it was automatic. And he’s right. Obviously, the legislature wrote the tax code, but this 3 cent increase didn’t come from a recent vote, rather it was an adjustment made through a process that’s been in place for years.
Eric
April 21st, 2011
8:10 pm
Whatever the rationale, additional taxes of any kind during this recession is insane. Shame on our legislature for not protecting its citizens!
Howard
April 21st, 2011
8:15 pm
If you don’t like the gas prices, stop buying pickup trucks and SUVs. My hybrid hyundai sonata gets over 50 miles to the gallon…sometimes almost 60mpg. Stand up for yourself, tell the politicians with investments in oil to go to hell. Buy the most fuel efficient cars on the market today. I’m not complaining. I hardly use any gas! Gas will be over $5 a gallon soon, and nobody will help us except ourselves.
Shady Deal
April 21st, 2011
8:21 pm
Can’t believe you guys thought I wouldn’t do this to you…LOL! Wait til you see what’s next up my sleeve.
findog
April 21st, 2011
8:26 pm
Centrist,
President Bush had the energy department study allowing unlimited exploitation of gulf oil, the republican’s running the energy department found that it would have so little effect that it was not a productive alternative to asking the Saudi’s for more oil.
Our miniscule reserves will not alleviate the supply/demand problem; unfortunately your miniscule brain cannot comprehend fact from fox fallacy…
Kay
April 21st, 2011
8:26 pm
Gatorman770, the gas tax revenue has and will continue to decrease as we drive more fuel efficient cars. We need another source of revenue for transportation funding, and a regional sales tax makes the most sense. Everything you purchase made its way into a store by some mode of transportation. And before that, it was delivered to a distribution center, a wholesaler, a warehouse, a farm, etc.
A regional tax makes sense because whether or not you own a car, you benefit from the existing infrastructure if only by the goods you buy. And those who don’t own cars, but travel by bus or train still benefit from roads and will now contribute toward their upkeep.
Don’t be so quick to judge the regional sales tax. It makes more sense than you think.
findog
April 21st, 2011
8:34 pm
Kay,
The regional transportation tax is just a way for the GOP to say they didn’t raise taxes to build or maintain the roads we need.
Nothing more, nothing less; typical political dodge of responsibility
VOTE NO ON TSPLOST, make the politicians do their jobs
David M
April 21st, 2011
8:47 pm
I did not vote for Deal or Slick Roy. Deal tried to make a deal with the councilmen in Gainesville to expand his junk yard. The good man didn’t make it to the finals.
CM
April 21st, 2011
8:49 pm
The gas tax is a usage charge for using the roads the government builds and maintains. It is a dedicated source of revenue that is only used for roads/transit projects. It has to be high enough to fund all road projects (plus we get federal dollars of course from the federal gas tax). Road/transit projects should not be funded out of general tax revenue. If they need to be higher to pay for roads, then fine. If the state does not need the additional revenue, then they should not be higher.
Tax revenues from gas tax decrease dramatically as the price of gas increases. But we still need about the same amount of money to fund road projects and maintenance. Adding an additional 3 cents when gas prices reach a certain level helps ensure that there is adequate funding for road projects. It may seem unfortunate and unfair when the economy is not great and gas prices are high, but it’s reality. The money has to come from somewhere, and it ought to be from people that actually drive and based on how much they drive.
we are the fools.
April 21st, 2011
8:52 pm
If any of you do not understand the goverment. you are fools.They say that the price goes up because they go to the winter blend of fuel, then they say it has to go up again, when they change over to summer blend.Which cost more, summer or winter blend? This crap started when they started unleaded gas. Lead was added to gas for a lubericant. It was not a byproduct. They went up almost 100% for unleaded gas. The fools bought it, wow they are taking the lead out and saving the world, we will pay double to do it. The price of anything to do with fuel doubled. cars, parts, etc. Now they are going top put some more piles of crap on our lunch plate and most people are going to buy it up and eat it up.
David M
April 21st, 2011
8:53 pm
Neither Deal or Slick Roy were adequate to be governor. The one good man didn’t make it to the finals. Barnes proved his behavior years ago, and Deal had tried to make a deal with the Gainesville councilmen about expanding his junkyard.
CARL
April 21st, 2011
9:03 pm
none of you have a clue about whats going on in this once great country,do you?
double
April 21st, 2011
9:22 pm
@Carl I’m all ears.
Rural Education
April 21st, 2011
9:39 pm
What makes any of you think that even if we drilled every possible hole for oil that it would make the price go down? Oil companies are in business to make money, they could really care less if the price goes up. There are no laws that say oil found in the U.S. (Anwar) has to be used for domestic purposes. The market is working just like it should. We need to quit buying this “if we make the conditions better for big business they will create jobs” mantra. They will create profit, buy oil stocks.
Aquagirl
April 21st, 2011
9:44 pm
Carl, we have many well-informed posters here—like the d00d who wants more lead in our brains, presumably so we can all be as smart as him. I mean, who’s bothered by brain-damaging crap spewing into the atmosphere? It’s not like kids will be affected by that or anything.
You should cower before such sheer brilliance.
bronco
April 21st, 2011
10:05 pm
Hey Roderick your pres is HALF WHITE and guess what I don’t like the black half or the white half.
RGB
April 21st, 2011
10:17 pm
It amazes me when leftists take umbrage at people who drive SUVs. I’ve never owned one myself but why should I care what somebody else drives as long as they are paying for it.
These same libs are adamant that women should be able to exercise their “choice” but are unwilling to let someone “choose” to drive an SUV. I suppose they believe driving an SUV is worse than aborting a baby.
Of course the liberati never have had a monopoly on logic and reason–all emotions.
RGB
April 21st, 2011
10:26 pm
THIS IS OBAMA’S ENERGY PLAN:
GASOLINE PRICES: “I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment ”
ELECTRICITY RATES: “You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.”
He’s keeping his promises–just like you people wanted.
Enjoy!!!
Lol
April 21st, 2011
10:31 pm
The people who are “struggling” to pay another $.03/gal probably have a negative effective tax rate and are driving a nice gas guzzler bought with their tax refund. It’s nice of them to chip in.
luangtom
April 21st, 2011
11:04 pm
This tax-rate bill passed long before Deal was voted in as governor. It is just now being implemented due to the price-ceiling the bill carries with it.
People are worried at $4.00 per gallon. Well, it has been these prices and higher elsewhere in the world and they have survived with it. We will, too. Granted, many of them do not drive the vehicles we do, but they have survived and have altered their choices in automobiles in the process. I drive a Mustang with a V8. I knew going in that prices for gas would be going up. I sacrifice in other areas to keep it on the road because I enjoy driving it. I make accommodations to compensate for the higher gas-prices. People have to learn to adapt.
double
April 21st, 2011
11:14 pm
We need leaders-The Bush clan not worth a ________The one we have now is following same path.I care less the label-Why are we lobbing TH missiles @over 1M each,giving 25Mil.now furnishing drones,and eventually boots on ground to Lybia.Are they a threat to us?We are beyond broke$ we are on the brink of default,bankruptcy.Can Obama do this alone?I think not.Now leave the labels out,and give me an explanation,please
Gas Tax Set To Rise May 1. Or, Yet Another Reason We Need Tax Reform. — Peach Pundit
April 21st, 2011
11:15 pm
[...] points to a Savannah Morning News article about how Georgia’s motor fuel tax is set to rise on May 1st. The tax in Georgia is a flat 7.5-cents per gallon, plus an amount based on price. The part based on [...]