Good and Bad in Curbing Gas Tax

As gas prices rise higher and higher, people are left scratching their heads wondering when they will start seeing relief at the pumps. 

In Connecticut, the average price of gas is around $4.15 per gallon for regular unleaded.  This is a huge difference from the national of average of $3.93 per gallon, though Connecticut’s average does not come close to the highest in the nation of $4.60 (in Hawaii). 

This past week, Governor Malloy signed a bill that will stop the collection of the gross receipts tax when the wholesale price is over $3, like it is at present.  The bill won’t affect prices too much right now, though, since the tax is about 1.5-1.7 cents. 

While this doesn’t really help anyone right now, it could help out a bit in the future.  Since the wholesale price of gas is already over $3 per gallon and doesn’t look to be going down anytime soon, it could help slow prices a bit if the price goes up again.  Unlike Connecticut’s other tax on gas, the gross receipts tax is not a flat tax.  Therefore, each time the price of gas goes up, so does the amount collected for the tax. 

When the bill was being discussed, it was only going to stay in effect for a year.  After that point, the tax would be collected again, and at a higher rate than it was being collected at.  What does that mean for consumers?  Chances are if the bill were allowed to expire next year, the price of gas will jump once again. 

Unquestionably, something more needs to be done about the rising gas prices.  Prices are increasing and getting to be a strain on everyone’s pocket.  Connecticut’s blockage of the gross receipts tax is a good start, but should not be applauded as a solution to the problem.  It’s merely a band-aid for a larger problem that simply cannot be combated from the state level.