Story by Jeff Amy with Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — State gasoline and diesel taxes made their return in Georgia earlier this year and with it, gas prices are closer to those in Alabama.
In March, with broad bipartisan support, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law suspending the state’s gas tax. He signed seven separate extensions after that, with the state forgoing an estimated $1.7 billion million in revenue according to the governor’s office.
Under state law, Kemp had the power to keep suspending taxes as long as state lawmakers ratified the action. Republican legislative leaders have supported the suspension, and plan to replenish state roadbuilding funds from Georgia’s $6.6 billion surplus.
Kemp kept the suspension in place through his successful reelection campaign against Democrat Stacey Abrams, finally announcing in December that he would stop extending it. The gas tax break was part of Kemp’s campaign to hand money to voters, saying he was helping them fight inflation.
Georgia drivers were paying the lowest gas prices in the nation, according to motorist group AAA, at an average of under $3 a gallon.
Georgia is one of five states that had a broad gas tax holiday because of high pump prices. New York and Connecticut resumed fuel tax collections on Jan. 1. with Georgia following suit.
Pump prices also include a federal tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel.
Unfortunately for Georgia consumers, the news is not good. On Monday, the state average is 67 cents more than a month ago and 20 cents more than this time last year. It now costs $50.85 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline.
As of Monday, the national average for a gallon of gas was $3.50, which is 9 cents higher than last week.