Opinion

Discussion

June 12, 2012

Editorial: Deal stops gasoline tax hike, why won’t he stand against new sales tax?

Gov. Nathan Deal has signed an executive order to prevent an increase in the motor fuel tax that was scheduled to go into effect on July 1.

The state Department of Revenue sets the motor fuel tax every six months based on an average of fuel costs. Officials determined that average gas prices over the past six months called for the gas tax to rise to 12.9 cents per gallon from 12.1 cents per gallon.

It is the second time in less than a year that Deal has signed an order blocking an increase in the fuel tax. We agree with the governor that a fuel tax increase — even of less than a penny — is not a wise idea at this time. We applaud his direct action in holding taxes low for consumers.

But if a small increase in the motor fuel tax is the wrong move for Georgia — if the state’s transportation needs don’t warrant such an increase — how can the state justify a new 1 percent transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST)? On July 31, residents of the state will go to the polls to vote on 10-year regional transportation SPLOSTs. If all of them pass, that would create the largest tax increase in state history.

Deal didn’t create the regional SPLOSTs. The Republican-controlled General Assembly voted to put them on the July ballot before he was elected governor. But he has joined other Republican leaders in supporting the taxes.

Deal was right to stop the gasoline tax increase. We wish he had the wisdom to oppose the even larger tax increase the regional SPLOSTs would impose.

 

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