Outraged by high gasoline prices, Connecticut State Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, announced on Thursday he will propose a cap on the gross receipts tax on gasoline, calling it the state’s hidden gas tax.
Connecticut’s price per gallon of unleaded gasoline is among the highest in the nation for two reasons: state law calls for a cleaner, more expensive fuel; and the state’s two taxes on the price per gallon.
The state’s retail gas tax is fixed at 25 cents per gallon. Consumers also pay a gross receipts tax at the pump tied to the fluctuating wholesale price of gasoline. At the current level, the gross receipts tax is 28 cents per gallon.
In the next Connecticut General Assembly session, Suzio will propose legislation capping the gross receipts tax at the level when prices are $3 per gallon. At that cap, the gross receipts tax would be no higher than 18 cents per gallon.
To gain momentum for his proposal – which comes at a time when state government is increasing taxes to balance its budget – Suzio started an online petition at his Web site, www.senatorsuzio.com. Suzio will present the petition to Gov. Dannel Malloy.
