Ky. Governor Beshear Signs Order to Freeze State Gas Tax

The rise was caused by the 110% increase predicted for the wholesale price of gasoline in the upcoming fiscal year.

By Maggy McDonel on Thu, Jun 2, 2022 at 4:07 pm

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Ky. Governor Beshear Signs Order to Freeze State Gas Tax

Photo: Andreas160578, Pixabay

Kentucky governor Andy Beshear froze the state gas tax ahead of a 2-cent raise.

The governor signed the emergency resolution on June 1 to prevent the July 1 raising of the gas tax.

The rise was caused by the 110% increase predicted for the wholesale price of gasoline in the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2022- June 30, 2023), as reported by the Kentucky Department of Revenue.

This massive jump in cost would raise Kentucky’s gas tax from 26 cents to 28 cents per gallon. Diesel would also increase from 23 cents to 25 cents per gallon.

“This gas tax hike would come at a time when Kentuckians are facing significant inflation, including surging gas prices,” read the resolution.

Kentucky’s average cost of a gallon of gas, as of May 31, was $4.306 compared to $3.804 the previous month and $2.847 last year, per reports from the Automobile Association of America (AAA).

The resolution also states that the Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported the freeze will not affect their budget or ongoing or planned work.