Prices at the gas pump went down noticeably Saturday, as part of a state-wide temporary gas-tax break. Drivers will avoid paying the state’s 25.3-cents-a-gallon gas tax in October.
Locally, it sent prices for regular unleaded to an average of $3.16 per gallon Monday morning in Osceola County according to AAA's Gas Prices website. The state average was $3.22 per gallon.
According to a report from the New Service of Florida, state legislative leaders said they decided to provide the tax break in October because it is a time when fewer tourists are in Florida than during other months. The gas tax helps pay for transportation projects; lawmakers directed $200 million in federal COVID-19 stimulus money to make up for the lost tax revenue.
The gas-tax repeal was part of a larger tax package (HB 7071) that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in May. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Florida hit a high of $4.89 on June 13, but prices steadily declined during the summer, with the average at $3.39 on Thursday, according to the AAA auto club.
DeSantis, who is running for re-election in November, initially asked lawmakers to provide a gas-tax break for six months. It’s unclear how Hurricane Ian will affect gas prices.
