Should NY Suspend Its Gasoline Tax? [POLL]

NEW YORK — Looking for some relief when you fill the gas tank these days?

Who isn't, especially with Friday's average price for a gallon of gas in New York at $4.35?

Around the state, prices range from a low of $4.20 a gallon in Ulster County all the way up to $4.77 in New York City, according to AAA's gas prices.

New York officials are considering ways to help with the pain at the pump, but whether anything comes to fruition is still up in the air.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday some sort of relief for drivers is being considered in the state budget plan, State of Politics reported.

The discussions concern a potential suspension of state taxes on the per-gallon cost through the end of the year.

New Yorkers shell out around 48 cents per gallon of gas in total taxes.

If the suspension happens, New York will join Maryland and Georgia in doing so. Maryland paused the tax for 30 days through April 16, and Georgia waived the tax through the end of May, the New York Post reported.

Democrats in the Nassau County Legislature proposed suspending the county's gas tax. The county collects 4.25 percent sales tax on gas purchases; it doesn't have a dedicated gas tax.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced Friday he and the legislature are working toward cutting the county gas taxes temporarily by 50 percent.

If the resolution is adopted in April, the law would take effect June 1 and expire on Dec. 1. Ryan clarified that, by law, local sales tax changes only take effect on the first days of March, June, September or December of any year.

Similar legislation is being considered in Dutchess County.

County Executive Marc Molinaro proposed capping the amount of county sales tax on each gallon of retail motor fuel at 8 cents. As in Ulster, the law wouldn't go into effect until June 1.

Molinaro said, as the price at the gas pump skyrockets, he wants the county to do all it can to help ease the pain for motorists.

"We recognize this relief is limited," he said, "but we must do what we can to help as families, farmers and small businesses are crushed by rising costs."

Now it's your turn to weigh in on the subject. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.