Broome County Executive Jason Garnar and Chairman of the Broome County Legislature Daniel J. Reynolds announced Wednesday a proposal to suspend a portion of the County’s gasoline tax. If approved by the County Legislature, the tax will be capped at $3 per gallon of gasoline starting June 1st and going through December 1st.
“The cost of living has gone up dramatically over the past year. Everything from groceries, to utilities, to fuel costs more but what isn’t going up is people’s paychecks,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “The County does not control what drives up the price of gas, but we are taking what action we can to provide savings for our residents.”
“Anytime we can put money back in the hands of residents, we should take that opportunity,” said Broome County Legislature Chairman & 5th District Legislator Dan J. Reynolds. “While these rising costs are not controlled at the local level, we want to do anything we can to help residents save money and see a noticeable difference at the pump.”
The County’s proposal, combined with recent action taken by the State Legislature, will save drivers more than $0.20 on each gallon of gasoline purchased in Broome County, based on current prices. For a vehicle with a 20-gallon tank, drivers should save more than $4 each time they fill up. With more than 135 thousand licensed drivers in Broome County, millions of dollars in total savings could be realized throughout the duration of the tax cap.
A resolution on the gas tax suspension is on the agenda of the County Legislature’s meeting tomorrow, April 28th.
