City leaders could take up bill to repeal gas tax hike

2 years ago 264

Jacksonville metropolis leaders are expected to ballot connected an exigency measure that could repeal the six-cent state taxation summation conscionable implicit 3 weeks earlier it is slated to instrumentality effect.

That state tax, which was approved by metropolis leaders successful May, doubles the existent taxation from 6 cents a gallon to 12 cents. The caller state taxation could rise implicit $960 cardinal successful the adjacent 30 years. That wealth volition beryllium utilized for proscription and different projects.

Even though state prices look to beryllium dropping, immoderate Jacksonville residents accidental they’re inactive feeling the pinch astatine the pump. John Kelly says helium regularly uses an app to find the champion prices astir town.

“Gas prices are higher than ever for everybody. I capable up astir apt 3 times a month,” Kelly said. “Probably $150.

Steven Fisher agrees immoderate radical indispensable marque the pugnacious decision, astatine times.

“You’ve got to beryllium connected if you’re going to wage your rent, you’re going to bargain food, wage for your kid, oregon are you going to person proscription to spell to work,” Fisher said. “It’s unsmooth close now.”

That’s wherefore councilwoman Leanna Cumber introduced a measure to repeal it.

“If we’re going to rise taxes, past we request to marque definite we’re doing it arsenic a past resort.”

Cumber says not lone volition raising the state taxation marque peoples’ lives much expensive, she believes if there’s a existent exigency successful the years to come, the city’s hands volition beryllium tied. By ‘emergency’, she gave examples of a hurricane oregon span repair.

“The program is to enslaved retired that full 30 years of taxation successful the archetypal 10 years,” Cumber said. “So, it’s fundamentally similar getting a caller recognition card, maxing retired that recognition card, and past saying, ‘don’t worry, I’m going to wage it implicit the adjacent 30 years’. You person nary much quality to usage that recognition paper successful an emergency.”

Cumber besides points to the wealth we should beryllium receiving arsenic portion of the national government’s trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. She besides says the wealth volition beryllium spent connected galore unnecessary oregon wasteful projects similar the Skyway, which she says cipher uses.

With the mean commute successful Jacksonville astir 36 miles circular trip:

A tiny fuel-efficient sedan operator would wage little than $14.50 a twelvemonth successful other substance costs
The mean car oregon SUV would wage astir $21.12 much a year
And large trucks would walk conscionable nether $36 much a year

Mayor Lenny Curry was successful favour of the state taxation hike. He told News4jax Friday he’s sticking to the program successful place.

“Keep our promises,” Curry said. “We are going to travel done connected our policies that we person present successful Jacksonville and proceed to bash infrastructure work.”

This connection comes arsenic different metropolis assembly member, Garrett Dennis, considers a antithetic approach. Garrett wants to hold the state taxation summation by 6 months and has besides filed legislation. If this exigency is not passed astatine Tuesday’s assembly meeting, it volition spell done the committee process starting successful January. The gathering starts astatine 5:00 p.m.

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