Maryland gas tax: Comptroller proposes no tax during holidays

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is proposing that the state drop gas taxes during summer holiday weekends, WTOP reports.

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Maryland has the highest gas tax in the region, at 23.5 cents per gallon; D.C. adds 20 cents, while Virginia taxes 17.5 cents. Franchot hopes that commuters will take the trip to Maryland to fill up their tanks during these proposed tax holidays.

The tax holiday would cost the state about $2 million per day, and would be in effect during the July 4th and Labor Day weekends.

While the comptroller hopes to remove the tax for select days, the state is planning to raise the gas tax 10 cents per gallon. Maryland needs to find $40 billion to fund its transportation projects.

Of course, the tax-removal debate represents the larger dillemma states are facing. On one hand, the states need all available revenue to fund necessary projects; on the other, they also need as many consumers as possible to keep the economy going. Balancing those two needs are proving to be virtually impossible.

[via WTOP]

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