Rep. Pat Widlitz, D-Guilford, co-chairwoman of the Finance Committee, said that legislative leaders axed the proposed 3-cents addition to the gasoline tax in the budget before the Senate today, because a line had to be drawn.
“It’s a very difficult time to raise the gas tax,” she said. “We need to have a revenue source for the Special Transportation Fund that’s predictable.”
Widlitz make her remarks to the Finance Committee right after Rep. Sean William, R-Watertown, noted that the state has been reaping revenue from the slightly hidden tax on petroleum sales called the gross-receipts tax. He said that back when the wholesale price of gasoline was $2.53 per gallon, the state made 19 cents. Now that it’s $3.46, the state is reaping 26 cents per gallon.