Gas Sales Tax Cap Extension Now In Progress In Dutchess

Though it may feel like gas prices are the highest they've ever been, maybe we're guilty of forgetting just how much prices at the pump skyrocketed following the pandemic.

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Do you remember back in June of 2022 when the national average for regular grade gas was at the $5 mark? These days, according to AAA fuel prices, the national average is sitting around $4.36-$4.37 a gallon, a steal when compared to 2022.

Have you ever thought about the gas sales tax and how that impacts our gas budget each week or month?

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What Is a Gas Sales Tax?

Basically, those counties that have a cap on gas sales tax are helping residents to save at the pump. Gas sales tax, as best explained by Dutchess County Government:

Local county sales tax is one of several state and federally imposed taxes and fees on retail sales of gasoline and diesel purchases.   The pump price per gallon of fuel includes federal tax, NYS motor fuel/diesel motor fuel excise tax, a petroleum business tax, the NYS Sales Tax (which includes the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MTA) tax) as well as local sales tax.

Counties use a percentage rate method to receive an allocation per gallon in sales tax.

a man pumping gas into his car at a gas station

SEE ALSO: New Yorkers Utility Bill Relief Program

Dutchess County Seeks to Extend Gas Sales Tax Cap

With the current gas tax cap set to expire on December 1st, the clock is ticking for Dutchess County to work towards an extension, but they certainly appear hard at work with the best interests of the community in mind.

On Thursday October 8th, the Dutchess County Legislature's Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee voted unanimously to advance a resolution to 'extend the cap on the County's tax on gasoline and highway diesel at $3 per gallon.

a row of gas pumps filled with gas

Chair of the Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee in Dutchess County, Yvette Valdés Smith shared the following regarding the vote:

I am proud to bring forward a resolution to extend the gas sales tax cap. Prices in Dutchess are too high, including the price of gas and diesel. Capping our county’s sales tax on gas and diesel helps put money back into our residents’ pockets.

The next steps are a Legislative Board Meeting on October 13th where the resolution could be adopted, and then pending approval from the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, the gas tax cap extension would take affect on December 1st.