Gas Price Rebate In NJ: Take The Patch Survey

NEW JERSEY - New Jersey gas prices have broken record highs over the past month, according to AAA. The state average was $4.212 per gallon for regular-grade gas as of Monday afternoon, compared to $3.652 per gallon one month ago and $2.936 a year ago.

And while a slight decrease in gas prices has been reported in the last week, Robert Sinclair, a spokesperson for AAA, told Patch this little bit of a break won't stick around.

"The east coast is gearing up for the switch to summer blends of gasoline which must be completed by April 15," said Sinclair, who is the manager of media relations for New York and New Jersey for AAA. "Prior to that, winter gas must be flushed, usually by selling it at a discount in the weeks before the switch. That's where we are now.” Read more: Lower NJ Gas Prices Won't Last Long, Experts Say

Should the federal government temporarily suspend its gas tax? Should New Jersey temporarily suspend its gas tax? Have rising gas prices caused you to change your driving habits?

We've put together an informal survey about the current gas price situation in New Jersey and whether it's forcing residents to change their driving habits. Feel free to fill out the survey here. The survey will be open for one week and close on April 6.

As of March 28, the most expensive gas on average in the Garden State can be found in Essex, Mercer, Morris, Hudson and Somerset counties, ranging from $4.255 to $4.312 per gallon. Camden County reports the cheapest gas per gallon at $4.134.

But new legislation sponsored by senate and assembly Republicans proposes that New Jersey residents shouldn't have to pay for soaring gas prices and inflation. The “Gas Price and Inflation Tax Credit Act," introduced earlier this month, would provide a $500 refundable income tax credit to families with an income less than $250,000 when they file their 2021 New Jersey tax returns.

If a taxpayer eligible for the rebate has already filed their 2021 taxes, they would automatically receive a $500 payment from the State when the legislation is enacted.

Gov. Phil Murphy has called S-2290/A-3704 (which would in total provide $1.5 billion of immediate tax relief to Garden State residents) “not a crazy idea,” adding that he’s “not against a rebate.”

“New Jersey families are getting hit by the double whammy of high gas prices and the worst inflation in 40 years,” said Sen. Ed Durr, the prime sponsor of the proposal in the Senate. “At the same time, Governor Murphy has taken billions more in taxes from New Jerseyans than he budgeted. That’s the people’s money, they need it to pay their bills, and we should give it back. There shouldn’t be a single Democrat in New Jersey who opposes putting $500 back in people’s pockets right away.”

The U.S. states of Maryland and Georgia have enacted tax cuts thus far, with Connecticut set to suspend its gas tax starting in early April. Other proposals to cut or suspend gas taxes are being heard in Ohio, California and West Virginia.

Here is a link to the survey.