A state lawmaker wants to give Ohioans tax relief at the pump.
Rep. Ty Mathews, R-Findlay, is finalizing legislation that would temporarily suspend Ohio’s gas tax. The move comes as motorists nationwide contend with high prices driven by the U.S.-Iran war, including nearly $5 per gallon in parts of Ohio.
Mathews said his plan is still taking shape, but he hopes to pitch a three-month gas tax holiday that would overlap with the busy summer travel season.
“How do we give meaningful relief to the taxpayer and to Ohioans at the pump, hopefully in the meantime praying this conflict resolves?” Mathews told the statehouse bureau April 30.
The average gas price in Ohio hit $4.46 this week, according to AAA, and some gas stations in Columbus and Cincinnati sold regular fuel for $4.99. The cost of gas continues to skyrocket as the U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked over blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, which transports 20% of the world’s oil.
In response, officials in Georgia and Indiana suspended their state’s gas tax to ease the burden on drivers.
Ohio’s gas tax is 38.5 cents a gallon, making it the 15th highest in the country, according to the Tax Foundation. The state taxes diesel and other types of fuel at 47 cents per gallon. Drivers also pay an 18.4-cent federal gas tax.
Plan to suspend Ohio gas tax faces skepticism
Mathews said he’ll attach an emergency clause to his bill, which would enable it to take effect immediately if passed and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine.
But DeWine championed a 2019 increase in the gas tax, which pays for state highway maintenance and other road and bridge upgrades. DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said suspending the tax could pose budget problems, as funding for road projects has already been allocated.
It’s also unclear how much support Mathews’ plan will get in the Legislature. Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, said gas prices are volatile and could drop before lawmakers have time to act. But he said they may need to consider a remedy if the problem persists.
“I’m really convinced that this is going to be a short-term thing,” Cirino said. “I understand the prices are causing difficulty for a lot of people. If it looks to be a long-term thing, if prices stabilize at the 4-dollar level, then I think we would have to consider doing any number of things.”
House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, said Democrats will assess the bill if it moves forward but argued Republicans can do more to address high energy costs.
“If Republicans were serious about alleviating the burden,” Isaacsohn said, “they would be pushing back on the war in the Middle East and fixing the problem of utility rate increases.”
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
Do you think Ohio should suspend the gas tax?
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio lawmaker wants gas tax holiday as prices soar
Reporting by Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
