On Wednesday, February 6, on an 8-3-1 vote, the House Transportation Committee passed a bill that would allow Maricopa County voters to decide whether or not to continue the County’s current transportation excise tax. If the bill passes the House and Senate, the vote would be part of the general election ballot on November 8, 2022.
The bill, HB2598, sponsored by Rep. Frank Carroll, “prescribes the levy and distribution of the transportation tax if approved by the voters and establishes a Transportation Tax Plan (Plan).” Reps. David Cook and Justin Wilmeth voted along with Carroll and Democrats on the Committee to advance the bill.
The tax continuation plan comes at a time when county residents are struggling to fill their gas tanks, so whether or not voters will want to continue to pay the tax is difficult to predict. Earlier this year, taxpayers hoped Governor Doug Ducey might follow the lead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who declared a tax holiday for residents to ease the pain created by the Biden administration’s out-of-control inflation.
“To help alleviate the burden of inflation on Florida families, I am proposing a $1 billion gas tax holiday to help reduce prices at the pump. If Washington, D.C., won’t change course, then we have a responsibility to step up on behalf of Floridians,” tweeted DeSantis.
To help alleviate the burden of inflation on Florida families, I am proposing a $1 billion gas tax holiday to help reduce prices at the pump.
If Washington, D.C., won’t change course, then we have a responsibility to step up on behalf of Floridians. pic.twitter.com/F0S6QBLGHB
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 11, 2022
In 2020, HURF revenue fell as a result of the Ducey administration’s lockdown, but due to the Biden administration’s energy policies and rising inflation, fuel costs have risen dramatically, forcing gas tax revenues up.