Gov. Kemp signs bill to suspend state’s gas tax to provide relief from high prices

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp officially suspended collection of the state gasoline tax until the end of May in an attempt to blunt the high gas prices since the start of the war in Ukraine.

The General Assembly passed the measure Thursday.

The suspension will mean gas distributors, not direct consumers, will pay 30 cents less per gallon for gas, 33 cents less per gallon for diesel.

That will cost anywhere between $300 million to $400 million in tax revenue for the state, but state leaders said they could dip into Georgia’s rainy day fund to make up the difference.

The measure will end in May unless the governor feels the need to extend it further.

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“Anything right now will make a difference,” said Preston Perry, an Atlanta resident filling up his friends car at a gas station on Memorial Drive. “It depends, man. Even right now in Atlanta, one gas station might be higher than another, so I think it really depends on where you’re located or where you live.”

Wayne Grier was out scouting local gas stations to find the lowest prices.

“I mean, it’s better than nothing,” Grier said. “But right now, it’s hurting.”

Higher gas prices have hit motorists but also companies, stores and retailers who truck in goods and products.

The higher gas prices mean higher transportation prices which leads to higher prices in those stores.

Kemp blamed the higher prices, in part, to the Biden Administration’s economic plan.

Since the suspension affects gas distributors not consumers, it’s unclear when motorists will see a reduction at the pump.

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