Pump Prices May Rise with Expiration of Broome County Gas Tax Cap

The temporary tax cap on gasoline sold in Broome County that went into effect last June has run its course and motorists are keeping a close eye on prices.

County lawmakers had put a cap on the local gasoline tax above three dollars a gallon. The move, which was approved in late April, occurred as pump prices were soaring after Russia invaded Ukraine. The tax cap expired Thursday.

New York state stopped imposing a 16-cents-a-gallon gas tax on June 1. That "tax holiday" is scheduled to end December 31.

County Executive Jason Garnar told WNBF News that gas prices were approaching $5 a gallon when the tax cap took effect. He said the lowest price in Broome County now is around $3.50 a gallon.

Garnar said the county was "able to take the budget hit" for the temporary tax cap because its sales tax revenues were up compared to a year earlier.

The county executive said Broome was expected to lose between $1.5 million and $2 million as a result of the six-month gasoline tax break.

Some state lawmakers want New York to extend its gas tax suspension. Republican Senator James Tedisco has called for a special session of the legislature to permanently cap and suspend the state sales tax on gasoline.

Governor Kathy Hochul has not said whether she would support such a move.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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Filed Under: Broome County, gas tax cap, gasoline prices, Jason Garnar

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