NC Gas Tax Could See Lower Rate


With gas prices falling in time for summer, a change in gas tax could even bring lower prices. North Carolina's gasoline tax would be capped at a lower rate for one year and new and higher tolls on state ferry routes would be delayed for the same period in a bill receiving unanimous House approval. The bill given tentative approval today would prevent the gas tax from going above 37.5 cents per gallon through June 2013. The gas tax is recalculated automatically twice annually based on wholesale gas prices. The current tax of 38.9 cents was already expected to fall this coming July. The bill also directs additional ferry tolls required in last year's budget not to be collected. Gas prices here locally have been dropping over the last few weeks after seeing prices up to 20 cents higher than surrounding counties. We spoke to area motorists who gave their opinion on the falling prices and asked if traveling outside of the county would be worth saving a few cents per gallon.

Gas prices here in Watauga county are now averaging around the $3.50 range and are expected to fall more as summer moves closer. Gov. Beverly Perdue blocked those ferry collections in February with an executive order after Republicans said she didn't have authority to do so. A final House vote on the matter will come next week.