State gasoline tax suspension in jeopardy
Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed "temporarily" suspending the state's 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax for five months, but state congressional leaders question how effective it would be.
In fact, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson, both Republicans, believe that given the influx of visitors to the state, "many others would benefit" from the 25-cent-per-gallon discount. ”.
In fact, according to the data provided by the Florida state authority, about 15 million Floridians, of the 23 who live in the state, travel the streets and highways of the state.
Florida proposes to suspend the state tax on the sale of gasoline, but the approval of the proposal is in danger https://t.co/z3pcJhkAJ2
– Diario Las Americas (@DLasAmericas) February 11, 2022
According to the state report, if the proposal is finally approved, the amount would be covered by one billion dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act federal stimulus package, which was adopted by the nation's Congress in March 2021.
Although the proposal could still resurface when the House and Senate negotiate a tax package in the coming weeks, Sprowls said it would focus on issues like asking voters in November to increase the family property tax exemption for teachers, military and lifeguards.
“The reality is that I am concerned about the gas tax relative to out-of-state visitors,” Sprowls told reporters. "I think our best estimate is that hundreds of millions of dollars of that gas tax (exemption) would go to people who don't live in the state."
The lawmaker added that the homestead exemption, which he has under bills HJR 1 and HB 1563, could be more beneficial because it would apply to police officers, firefighters, first responders, child protection investigators and active duty military personnel.
In addition, the current president of the state Senate, the Republican Simpson, who aspires to be state commissioner of Agriculture, said that no proposal is “off the table” with four weeks left in the legislative session.
However, on the proposed tax break for gasoline, Simpson said, "It's something we should have a conversation about."
Miami Daily
Author: Patricia Chung 6:49 pm