LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Several Niagara County legislators are looking to follow suit after the New York State budget included a 16 cent reduction per gallon in state gas taxes.
The state give counties the option to cap sales tax on gas purchases at $2, $3 or $4 a gallon. The Niagara County sales tax is 4%.
“Motorists need relief from high gas prices and we have the ability to add to what the state has done to further lower prices,” Niagara County Legislator Chris Voccio said. “I have been talking about this even before the state budget was passed and now I believe there is bipartisan support to move this forward.”
Not all legislators support the tax cuts without concern.
“I want to talk with state leaders about how we can ensure that these reductions are going to translate to lower gas prices,” Niagara County Legislature Minority Leader Chris Robins said. “The full amount of any state and county gas tax reduction needs to be passed along to consumers at the pump.”
One legislator also wanted to keep the impact on the budget in mind.
“It’s important to make sure any gas sales tax reduction does not create a significant budget gap that impacts property taxpayers,” Niagara County Legislature Majority Leader Randy Bradt said. “However, I’m confident, given that sales tax revenue has been increasing since the height of the pandemic even beyond budgeted expectations, that we can adjust our budget as needed.”
Options for gas tax reduction will be reviewed at the committee meetings on April 25. The legislators intend to have any tax reductions take effect on June 1 along with the state reduction.
