Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To view responses on our previous topics click here.
Publisher reserves the right to edit responses for clarity and publish online and/or in our print publications.
Please let us know your thoughts!
This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
Automatic Inflation-Induced Tax Increases
Did you know that during periods of national and state economic inflation, Maryland imposes a gas tax increase. This year’s increase—because of the economic hardship we’re all experiencing—could be between 6 and 8 percent at the pump come July.
That’s an increase on what we’re already paying; not a decrease. And yes, it’s tied directly to the economic hardship we’re all experiencing. Talk about rubbing salt in a wound.
Notice that you’ve been paying more at the pump during the past year-plus? It’s not just the cost of crude oil and global economics playing into the price. Inflation reached 40-year highs over the last year and this spike pushed the Maryland excise tax from 36.1 cents to 42.7 cents per gallon starting last July 1st. This July, we’re poised to pay more, again.
The annual tax review (held in April) and increases date back to the legislature voting in 2013 to wed annual increases to inflation. That year was the first in 20 that the legislature voted to increase the gas tax. And the Democratic majority has maintained the status-quo since.
Republicans introduced legislation last year, and again this session, that would decouple the gas tax and inflation rates. But Democrats argue that the increases are necessary to fund the state’s transportation chest (itself a victim of inflation).
What do you think about the State increasing the gas tax during times of economic hardship? What funding solutions can we—constituents—offer our representatives as alternatives to funding the necessary transportation budget?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend. AND, several responses from recent topics will appear in our upcoming print magazines!
