Gas tax holiday still missing from legislative budget as prices surge to over $4 a gallon

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gas prices are surging here in Florida and across the country.

They’ve risen 50 cents in the Sunshine State just in the past week alone.

RELATED STORY: Florida gas prices soar to $4 a gallon as industry insiders anticipate further hikes in the future

Gov. Ron DeSantis was here in Jacksonville back in November, unveiling his plan to tackle rising gas prices by creating a five-month gas tax holiday, but signs are the holiday might not happen after all.

The clock is ticking on this year’s legislative session, with lawmakers needing to publish their annual budget by Tuesday if they hope to go home on time. The gas tax holiday still hasn’t made it in, even as prices at the pump have surged to more than $4 a gallon.

“This will be many months, and you know it will be over a billion dollars, and so that will be real meaningful relief for people,” said DeSantis in November.

The proposal would cut the cost of gas by 25 cents for five months, totaling $1 billion in savings.

The average Florida family would save an estimated $200.

But the House speaker and Senate president never signed on, arguing it wouldn’t only be Floridians saving money.

“I think that our best estimate is hundreds of millions of dollars of that gas tax would go to people who don’t live in the state,” said House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Clearwater) on Feb. 10.

“Let’s target Floridians and maybe not everyone that may come here to vacation an tourists,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Spring Hill) the same day.

Derrick Morgan, with American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, told us even if the tax holiday were to be implemented, it’s not a sustainable solution in the long term.

STORY: Former JEA CEO, CFO federally indicted on conspiracy and wire fraud charges

“Those taxes do fund road improvements and road construction,” said Morgan.

Floridians we spoke with said the relief would be a welcome gesture, even if it’s only temporary.

“It’s definitely needed. All the taxation that’s gone on in the last six months from the city and the state, it’s impacting us, along with the impact at the pump,” said Jacksonville resident Dale Alexander.

“Seeing how much it is now, yes, I would appreciate that,” said resident Elaina Brindis.

We reached out to the governor’s office, the Senate president and the House speaker to ask if the recent spike in gas prices has changed the calculation on a gas tax holiday.

The Governor’s Office told us in an emailed statement late Monday afternoon that it is continuing to push lawmakers to include the gas tax holiday.

“Especially in light of spiraling gas prices. The governor wants gas to be affordable to all Floridians and is willing to reduce tax burdens to make this possible. At this point, it is up to the legislature to pass these measures in the final budget,” said DeSantis’ deputy press secretary Bryan Griffin in an emailed statement.

We didn’t hear back from the Senate president, but the speaker’s office responded, doubling down on the concerns the tax break would benefit tourists.

“The House tax package provides targeted tax relief for everyday Floridians, whereas gas tax relief could go to out-of-state drivers who are visiting the state. The House is focused on a the most robust tax package it’s ever offered — one that offers tax relief to Florida residents with a massive expansion of sales tax holidays, extending Disaster Preparedness and Back to School holidays to two full weeks, adding a new Tool Time Tax Holiday for equipment used for skilled trades, and adding new tax breaks for diapers, children’s books and clothes, Energy Star appliances, and impact-resistant doors and windows, and more,” said speaker’s office press secretary Jenna Box Sarkissian in an emailed statement.

Sarkissian noted nothing is final until lawmakers adjourn and bring the session to an official end.

©2022 Cox Media Group