Maryland’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding recommended yesterday that the state gas taxA gas tax is commonly used to describe the variety of taxes levied on gasoline at both the federal and state levels, to provide funds for highway repair and maintenance, as well as for other government infrastructure projects. These taxes are levied in a few ways, including per-gallon excise taxes, excise taxes imposed on wholesalers, and general sales taxes that apply to the purchase of gasoline. go from 23.5 cents per gallon to 38.5 cents per gallon over three years, a 63 percent increase. If the increase occurs and no other states raise their gas taxes, it would take Maryland from the 27th highest to the 6th highest gas taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. in the country (behind California, New York, Hawaii, Connecticut, and Illinois).
It would be more than 60 percent higher than the District’s gas tax and nearly double that in Virginia. It would also be indexed to inflationInflation is when the general price of goods and services increases across the economy, reducing the purchasing power of a currency and the value of certain assets. The same paycheck covers less goods, services, and bills. It is sometimes referred to as a “hidden tax,” as it leaves taxpayers less well-off due to higher costs and “bracket creep,” while increasing the government’s spending power. , inching up indefinitely thereafter.
The proposal is similar to a 10-cent hike and indexing plan endorsed early this year by leading Democrats in the Maryland Senate, and co-sponsored by over a quarter of the members of the General Assembly.[…]
In all, the plan endorsed by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding would raise an estimated $870 million annually, with $491 million of that coming from what would be the first gasoline tax hike since 1992. Car registration fees would increase 50 percent, bringing in $165 million. Unspecified bus and rail fee increases would garner about $26 million.
Share