Gas Taxes

[WolfyOne]

I was reading an article in my AARP Magazine and
thought it was quite interesting when I saw how much tax we pay per gallon of gas depending on where we live.

Does anyone ever really pay attention to the taxes when going to the pump?
Do we actually know where this money goes?
Do you ever feel like you're being gouged of hard earned money at the pump?

I feel sorry for those in states that demand so much in taxes for gas,
just for the luxury of driving where you want or need to go.

Here's a list of gasoline tax per gallon in cents as of April 2010

Alabama 20.9
Alaska 8.0
Arizona 19.0
Arkansas 21.8
California 48.6
Colorado 22.0
Connecticut 42.6
D.C. 23.5
Delaware 23.0
Florida 34.4
Georgia 20.9
Hawaii 45.1
Idaho 25.0
Illinois40.4
Indiana 34.8
Iowa 22.0
Kansas 25.0
Kentucky 22.5
Louisiana 20.0
Maine 31.0
Maryland 23.5
Massachusetts23.5
Michigan 35.8
Minnesota 27.2
Mississippi 18.8
Missouri 17.3
Montana 27.8
Nebraska 27.7
Nevada 33.1
New Hampshire 19.6
New Jersey 14.5
New Mexico 18.8
New York 44.9
North Carolina 30.2
North Dakota 23.0
Ohio 28.0
Oklahoma 17.0
Oregon 25.0
Pennsylvania 32.3
Rhode Island 33.0
South Carolina 16.8
South Dakota 24.0
Tennessee 21.4
Texas 20.0
Utah 24.5
Vermont 24.7
Viginia 19.6
Washington 37.5
West Virginia 32.2
Wisconsin 32.9
Wyoming 14.0

[Andrew, Jr.]

Wolfy,

Thanks for that information. I think it is terrible. And I do think it is going to get worse as time goes on.

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by WolfyOne

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Navy"]I was reading an article in my AARP Magazine and
thought it was quite interesting when I saw how much tax we pay per gallon of gas depending on where we live.

Does anyone ever really pay attention to the taxes when going to the pump?
Do we actually know where this money goes?
Do you ever feel like you're being gouged of hard earned money at the pump?

Actually, if you look at the US *globally* we pay *less* for gas than, strictly speaking, we should be. The United States has artificially low gas prices. In Europe, the average price for gas is (in US Dollars and using Imperial units) just under $9.00/gal. The average price in the US is around $3.00/gal. Now, here's where it gets interesting--because Europeans pay more for gas, they drive less and use other means of transportation on a day-to-day basis. Btw. as a percentage of the price of a gallon of gas, our taxes are *far* lower than in Europe--the breakdown in Europe is around 70/30 (so the first 70% of the cost of a gallon of gas is taxes and the other 30% is the base price).

As far as where the money goes, it *should* be going to maintain the interstate highway system and local roads--that's not necessarily where the money ends up, particularly in the latter case. As far as being gouged at the pump? No, I don't because I'm well aware that just across the pond the $3.05/gal I pay for premium (no way would I put anything less than premium in my car) would cost me 3 or 4 times as much. Actually, I would like to see the United States ratchet up the price of gas with the extra funds raised going to fund public transportation and/or basic research to get us off of oil.

I feel sorry for those in states that demand so much in taxes for gas,
just for the luxury of driving where you want or need to go.

I don't. We Americans are far too dependent upon our cars and have made a very uncomfortable and spiky bed to lay in. It didn't *have* to be this way and it doesn't *have* to continue to be this way. The thing is, we keep putting off the day of reckoning, bargaining for one more year, six more months, one more day of getting in the car and driving the three blocks to get some milk instead of walking or riding a bike. Since it is clear we cannot legislate anything in this country any longer, the only thing that seems to work are market-pressures so the market will have to be the mechanism that forces Americans to give up our car-centric lifestyles.

Cheers
Aj

[Linus]

http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=3 <-- You can use this chart to compare even Canada and the US. It appears even over a 6 year period Canada traditionally is a $1USD more.

Canada's gas tax (at least based on PetroCanada's est for 2007 was 32% http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/fuelsavings/2139.aspx). And there it's used for infrastructure stuff amongst other things. http://www.infc.gc.ca/ip-pi/gtf-fte/gtf-fte-eng.html

[Andrew, Jr.]

Linus you bring up a good point. My brother and his partner just came back from Europe. They rented a car, and gas was very expensive there. He told me, and I maybe off a bit, but it was close to $6+/gallon. Needless to say they did a lot of walking, and sharing cab rides.

[WolfyOne]

dreadgeek and Linus, put that way, I guess we're better off than other countries when it comes to gas prices. I just think it's a shame the cost of living hasn't caught up to the taxes any of us has to pay above and beyond what's already taken out of our paychecks. I look forward to the day when an alternative is put in, in place of gasoline that will be cheaper and greener for the future of all.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by WolfyOne

dreadgeek and Linus, put that way, I guess we're better off than other countries when it comes to gas prices. I just think it's a shame the cost of living hasn't caught up to the taxes any of us has to pay above and beyond what's already taken out of our paychecks. I look forward to the day when an alternative is put in, in place of gasoline that will be cheaper and greener for the future of all.

Or more, the US gov't artificially suppresses the price and impact of car driving in this nation. Canada (I can't speak for Europe since I haven't been there since I was 8) uses a lot of the taxes towards infrastructure (public transit), road improvements, etc.