By Aaron Neuman. New Jersey’s state treasurer announced that there will be a tax hike of 4.3 cents per gallon of gas bought in NJ beginning this fall. The tax hike raises the total state taxes on gas to 41.4 cents per gallon, one of the highest rates in the country. A gas tax increase of 23 cents per gallon was signed into law by then-governor Christie just two years ago. State law stipulates that the gas tax be raised to pay for transportation projects throughout the state.
As a resident of Lakewood, I find this tax hike to be abhorrent. If there is one area of New Jersey that can use transportation upgrades, it is ours. Our roads are falling apart and they can’t carry the daily traffic. You would think that officials overseeing the funds raised from such gas tax hikes would put the revenues to worthwhile causes, such as widening Route 9. Many thought such a project would be undertaken after Christie’s 23-cent hike. But it didn’t happen. Why not? Because the tax hike is nothing more than a cash grab. The funds are not used for truly pressing transportation infrastructure needs, but rather to satisfy the pet projects of New Jersey politicians eager to win reelection.
Since the gas tax hike two years ago, have we seen substantial upgrades to our roads? No. Should we expect to see upgrades after the implementation of this new tax hike? Again, no. Structured as a slush fund, you can expect your tax dollars to go to projects nobody needs or cares for.
New Jersey is known as one of the highest-taxed states in the country. From ever-rising property taxes to sales taxes, the situation has become nothing short of oppressive. Because of the high-tax environment, politicians and officials need to find ways to tax the public further to fund their self-serving propositions. The gas tax and now the hiking of that tax is just another example of this deceptive trend.
Unlike most states, New Jersey has pegged the gas tax rate not to the price of a gallon of gas, but rather to the consumption of gas throughout the state. This guarantees that politicians have the money to throw at their projects to further their political endeavors regardless of how much New Jersey residents actually need those projects.
It truly is sickening to see the continued slamming of New Jersey taxpayers at the hands of politicians who seem to have only their own self-interests in mind. While these officials are laughing to the bank with our hard-earned wages, many NJ residents are struggling to put food on their tables.
Taxpayers are getting sick of constantly being treated as unthinking subjects and mindless robots, and at some point the anger will boil over, destroying any chance of these politicians to stay in their posts. No wonder that even in a state that leans heavily Democratic, governor Phil Murphy can barely crack above a 50% approval rating.
The biggest problem with the way the tax was tied in was if consumption for gas is down the tax will go up to make up for the loss. Well guess what if you keep on raising the tax you’ll have less people from out of state buying the gas which will equal less gas consumption which will require another raise…what we basically ended up doing is loosing any tax revenue that came from out of state! Now the people of NJ will foot the whole tax bill which will equal less money for the people of NJ to spend elsewhere….
Iyr fault we voted for him. Soon no plastic bags. Continuing rhe failed Obama agenda
I didn’t vote for Murphy (don’t like the name – Did you ever hear of Murphy’s law – Anything that can go wrong Will.)
I’m so fixated on calling him Gov. Pothead, that I forget his real name.
I agree the state keep raising taxes and there no reason to vote for democratic. They keep looking to raise taxes.
We read all day about a silent majority and how we taxpayers won’t take it anymore, yet we elect someone who ran on agenda of promising to raise taxes.