There is still time for Ohioans to stop a big gas tax increase.
A conference committee on Ohio’s biennial transportation budget was unable to reach a consensus on the amount by which the state’s gas tax should be raised last week. Now, the committee is scheduled to reconvene Tuesday, April 2nd.
The only major point of agreement the committee reached was its approval of $70 million in funding for public transit in the budget. This comes in higher than both Governor DeWine and the Senate’s respective $44 million and $50 million proposals, but lower than the House’s proposed $100 million.
Outside of the gas tax increase amount, the committee was also unable to reach a consensus on whether the state will continue to require front license plates on vehicles, fees applicable to hybrid and electric vehicle owners to compensate for their reduced gas-consumption, and a potential increase to the Ohio Earned Income Tax Credit.
The conference committee failed to meet its March 31st deadline to pass a transportation budget Friday when Senate members shot down a deal between the Governor and the House for an 11-cent/gallon gas tax increase and a 20-cent/gallon diesel tax increase. Lead by Senate President Larry Obhof, the Senate is still skeptical of the degree to which the gas tax must be hiked to meet ODOT’s needs. There are talks of a current Senate proposal to hike the gas tax by 8.5 cents and the diesel tax by 13 cents, but these numbers have not been confirmed. ODOT is funded through June 30th under its current budget, and lawmakers expect to reach a compromise well before this date.
Ohio Watchdog reported on Sunday that Ohioans carry, on average, a tax burden that is 21% higher than the national average. Ohioans simply cannot afford a tax increase of any kind, let alone a gas tax increase that would serve to do the most damage to the already struggling middle and lower class.
The proposed gas tax hike is unpopular among Ohioans – 55% oppose the Governor’s original proposal. Make sure to speak up and take action to stop the conference committee from passing a hike that unnecessarily burdens Ohioans. For more information on the gas tax hike and other Ohio issues, please visit Ohioans for Tax Reform.