Nassau lawmakers propose gas tax cap as prices climb
With the Nassau County sales tax at 4.25%, the measure would save drivers a little more than four cents per gallon.
A group of Democratic lawmakers in Nassau County is pushing a new proposal to temporarily reduce taxes on gasoline, aiming to give drivers some relief as fuel prices continue to rise. But the plan is already facing resistance from the county executive.
Gas prices on Long Island have climbed to an average of $4 per gallon, according to AAA. In early March, shortly after the start of the war with Iran, prices were as low as $2.85. The rapid increase has left many drivers frustrated.
In response, Democratic legislators introduced a bill that would create a gas tax holiday by capping the taxable price of gasoline at $3 per gallon. With the Nassau County sales tax at 4.25%, the measure would save drivers a little more than four cents per gallon.
“This is a simple measure with a simple goal,” said Legislator Cynthia Nunez of Valley Stream. “Nassau County should not collect more money in taxes when families are getting crushed by a higher cost of living.”
Several counties across New York State have already adopted similar tax caps. Nassau implemented a comparable measure in 2022, when gas prices surged to around $5 per gallon.
But County Executive Bruce Blakeman signaled he does not support the new proposal. In a statement, he criticized the legislators behind it, saying it was “hypocritical for the same Democrats who defunded critical public safety projects in the capital plan and voted for a $150 million tax increase to now call for a gas tax holiday.”
News 12 reached out to the governor’s office to ask whether the state is considering a similar measure but has not yet received a response. A spokesperson for the Suffolk County executive said Suffolk is not considering its own gas tax holiday.
