Gas Tax Relief Considered As Prices Soar In Connecticut: Lamont

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont is looking to provide some sort of relief when it comes to high gas prices in Connecticut. The announcement came after Bob Stefanowski, the leading Republican candidate for governor, called on the governor to suspend the state's gas tax.

"I'm going to do everything I can to provide relief for Connecticut taxpayers, drivers at the pump," Lamont said in a video posted to Twitter.

He said he would work with the state legislature to explore potential rebates or a gas tax holiday. It would have to be something the state could afford in the near term.

Stefanowski called for the state to suspend its gas tax until the beginning of 2023 amid rising fuel costs.

“Connecticut residents are paying some of the highest gas taxes in the nation, and they need immediate relief from this national surge in gas prices that has no end in sight,” Stefanowski said in a statement.

Connecticut has two types of fuel taxes. The motor vehicle fuels tax (commonly called the gas tax) is paid at the pump, and the petroleum products gross earnings tax (PGET), which is paid at the wholesale level and often passed on to consumers.

Connecticut's current gas tax is 25 cents per gallon, which hasn't changed since 2000, according to the state Office of Legislative Research.

Overall, Connecticut ranks 15th in the nation for the highest total state taxes on gas and 9th highest for diesel as of July 2020, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

Connecticut brought in $319 million in PGET revenue and nearly $500 million in motor vehicle fuel tax revenue in fiscal year 2019.

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Connecticut gas prices reached an all-time high Wednesday as the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupts oil markets around the world.

A gallon of regular unleaded reached an average of about $4.42, according to AAA. The previous record was $4.39 a gallon, set on July 9, 2008. The price of gas in July 2008 was $5.61 when adjusted for inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.

Connecticut prices increased 6 cents since Tuesday and about 66 cents since last week. Gas was $2.82 a gallon a year ago.

By county, the average cost of regular gas per gallon is:

• Fairfield County: $4.45
• New Haven County: $4.39
• Middlesex County: $4.42
• New London County $4.39
• Windham County: $4.44
• Tolland County: $4.41
• Hartford County: $4.42
• Litchfield County: $4.40

The national average also broke another record at $4.25 a gallon, which was an 8-cent increase since Tuesday.