Proposal To Raise New Jersey Gas Tax Draws Ire
LITTLE FALLS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - A proposal to raise the gas tax in New Jersey is drawing opposition.
The low prices, like $1.79 per gallon at the Delta station in Little Falls, have some people saying now is the time to raise the gas tax, but others are saying absolutely not.
New Jersey Gas Tax Hike Proposal Draws Ire
"I think honestly, it's outrageous," Mike Proto with Americans for Prosperity told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "New Jersey has the worst taxes in the country. The only tax that happens to be low is our gas tax."
The money from the gas tax hike would pay for infrastructure improvement.
"Roads are terrible, bridges are terrible, they've got to be fixed," one driver said.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski said in November 2014 New Jersey is out of money for transportation
projects because for two decades, politicians have avoided hiking the gas tax.
"Everybody who drives the roads knows they are in horrible condition," Wisniewski said.
Every one-cent hike in gas tax brings the state an extra $50 million, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported in November, so to raise an extra $1.6 billion, the state would have to raise the gas tax 31 cents.
"The people of New Jersey are smart enough to understand that we can't wish bridges built, we can't hope roads get fixed. We need money," Wisniewski said.
A recent survey shows two-thirds of state residents oppose a gas tax hike.
"We need to find that money in the budget that we already have. And believe me, New Jersey taxpayers are already sending enough down to Trenton," Proto said.
