Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has again extended a suspension of the state’s gas tax that was due to expire this month.
Instead, he is continuing the suspension of the 29-cents-a-gallon tax for gasoline and 32-cents-a-gallon for diesel through Oct. 12. The suspension has been in place since March, and has been extended several times before.
Although gasoline prices continue to fall—to under $3.50 a gallon in many parts of East Cobb—Kemp cited continuing inflation elsewhere and supply chain issues.
Kemp, a Republican who is seeking re-election in November, blamed Democrats in Congress and said that “we can’t fix everything Washington has broken, but we can use the resources we have as a result of our responsible budgeting to keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Georgians.”
His announcement comes right before the Labor Day holiday weekend, and the new extension approaches the elections.
Stacey Abrams, Kemp’s Democratic opponent, has urged that he extend the gas tax suspension through the end of the year.
She hasn’t issued a statement on the latest extension, but when Kemp renewed the extension in August, she accused him of refusing “to provide Georgians with the stability they deserve and commit to a full-year suspension.”
The Georgia Department of Revenue estimates that the state gas taxes raise around $150 million a month for road maintenance projects.
Georgia motorists still pay a federal gas tax of 18 cents a gallon.
According to AAA-The Auto Club Group, Georgia’s gas prices are among the lowest in the country, as are most Southern states.
The current statewide average of $3.38 a gallon is “5 cents less than a week ago, 44 cents less than a month ago, and 43 cents more than this time last year,” AAA noted on Monday.
Metro Atlanta’s average of $3.43 a gallon is among the highest areas in the state.
In early June, the statewide average was $4.49 a gallon.
The most expensive state for gas is California, which averages $5.25 cents a gallon.
Related:
- Johnson Ferry Road repaving prompts night lane closures
- Cobb DOT to start Bill Murdock-Pine Road realignment
- East Piedmont Road resurfacing project continues
- East Cobb resurfacing projects OK’d with 2022 SPLOST funds
- Cobb commissioners adopt $1.2 billion fiscal year budget
- East Cobb residents challenge Cupid on budget, diversity issues
- Lower Roswell Road project questioned as construction nears
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
