Georgia drivers will continue to notice some relief at the pump until December 11 after Gov. Brian Kemp extended the state's gas tax suspension Friday.
Since the state tax on motor fuel was first suspended in March, Georgians have saved approximately $950 million at the pump, according to a press release by Kemp.
According to the Associated Press, Kemp plans to backfill the money for road building using some of the $6.6 billion in state surplus.
"As another holiday season and a looming diesel shortage approaches, Georgians are still facing record high inflation, growing costs at the grocery store just before Thanksgiving, and high prices at the pump as they prepare to travel to see family, all due to a complete failure of leadership in Washington," Kemp said in a statement. "While we can't fix everything politicians have broken, our responsible approach to reopening our economy while prioritizing both lives and livelihoods allows us to deliver needed relief by continuing to suspend our state's gas tax. Alongside our partners in the legislature, we will continue working to ease the burden felt by Georgia's families who deserve to have safe, warm, and prosperous holidays."
Alabama recently completed the first fiscal year of fully implementing the gas tax increase from the Rebuild Alabama Act of 2019.
According to the Department of Revenue, the 10-cent gas tax increase from the Rebuild Alabama Act was phased in over roughly two years. Gasoline and diesel taxes increased by six cents on Sept. 1, 2019, by two cents on Oct. 1, 2020, and another two cents on Oct. 1, 2021.
According to state revenue totals, Rebuild Alabama revenue was slightly over $344 million for fiscal year 2022, ending on September 30. Initial estimates in 2019 were that the revenue would raise approximately $320 million.
Fiscal year 2022 was the first year drivers in Alabama paid the full 10-cent tax increase when filling up at the pump.
"As you correctly point out, the $320 million was an estimate, and while nobody could have predicted today's sky-high inflation under the Biden Administration, we can be grateful we have the revenue we do have to make improvements – big and small – in every single county across the state," Gina Maiola, Gov. Kay Ivey's communications director, told 1819 News in late October.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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