Quoted Text

George,
I realize that high gas prices and the taxes on it is one of the issues that you stated you were going to work on.  I would first of all like to thank you ahead of time for what, no doubt, is going to be a difficult fight.

I was wondering if there was a way, as you start to plan your movement towards cutting some of the taxes on gas, that you could supply me (and the others I would share this with) with the current burden of taxes that are placed on a gallon of gas at the New York State level.  

I would like to know the following information, if you are able to get it.  The amount of each tax, the reason for the tax, and if you can find out in your work, how much money has recently come in for each tax and if it was actually applied to what it was meant for.

It's time for Extreme Makeover, Assembly Edition and we've got the right person on the job.  

Thanks again and I hope that things can finally start to turn around in this state government.

Sincerely,

Kevin T. March
163 Princetown Road
Rotterdam, NY 12306

cc: http://www.rotterdamny.info/b-general3/m-1182081588/s-0/

Quoted Text

Mr. Tedisco,

I apologize for taking so long to get back to you on this, however, I was just thinking about these issues again today.  I did send an e-mail to my new Assemblyman, Mr. Amedore today, requesting information on the level of taxes on gasoline at the New York State level.  Please find a copy of this attached.  Also, I realize that you cover the western portion of Schenectady County, as well as other areas.  I hope that you will work along with Mr. Amedore on these issues.  I also realize that this information may not be easily available to Mr. Amedore in short return and hope that you would help him to bring together this information for release to the public.

Also, in the reply to me which is below, you stated that you would be able to send me a copy of the Assembly Republican's "Road to Reform."  While I would appreciate a copy of this, I request that you do not mail one to me.  I do request, if possible, you send me a copy of this via e-mail or advise where on the internet I can go to review a copy of this.

My reason for asking you to not send me a copy of this via the postal service is this is one way that I really think that the government of this country, at every level, can significantly reduce costs, and therefore taxes.  Thanks for your consideration and anticipated reply.

Sincerely,

Kevin T. March
163 Princetown Road
Rotterdam, NY 12306

Quoted Text

New York is putting its worst face forward at the pumps  
First published: Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Last week I was roaming northern California. Two weeks ago, it was Indianapolis, and in between, there were a couple of quick visits to Providence, R.I.
    
Yes, my arms are tired from all that flying, but that's not where I'm going with my crazy schedule.

It's about gas prices. I've gotten an eyeful up close and it is very annoying.

I don't care how sophisticated a traveler you are, you can't help check out the price of gasoline when you're out of state and do a quick comparison with back home. What I learned over the last two weeks is what we've been told all along, we New Yorkers are getting blistered with taxes.

It's one thing to read in the abstract in USA Today about where New York stands in comparison to other states in terms of taxes on gasoline -- we're the highest -- and quite another to see gas stations in other states all lit up with prices we haven't seen in a year.

In Indianapolis, a random check of stations showed regular going for $2.68 a gallon. I filled my wife's Buick outside of Providence on Sunday for $2.65 a gallon, although the average price appeared about 10 cents higher. On the way over, through Massachusetts, the price was in the $2.80s. But the heavy salt in the wound was California, which traditionally has higher gas prices than anywhere in the country because of required additives and restrictions. In Lodi, gas was selling for $2.739 last Friday.

At home, it was still over $3. In fact, checking the AAA gas scoreboard, three states in the country have gas averaging $3 a gallon or more. They would be Hawaii, Alaska and New York.

Granted, there are wide variances within a state in gas prices. Still, the obvious difference was jarring enough and frosted me good.

No wonder New York has a competitive disadvantage when it comes to luring business and appearing friendly to potential newcomers. We put our worst face forward at the pumps, the pumps that every one sees, takes note of and remembers.

It's mostly about psychology rather than hard finance, to be sure. The difference between $3 a gallon and $2.75 a gallon for someone driving 10,000 miles a year in a vehicle getting 25 miles to the gallon is just $100.

But psychology matters, a lot, when you're the third most heavily taxed state overall in the nation, and only a whisker behind the leaders. And it's not about blue state, red state either, or states with enriched social programs versus those who herd their oldsters, the sick and the lame on to an ice floe.

California, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey to the south, all have significantly cheaper gas than we do. It costs less in all of our bordering states -- even Connecticut, which is the highest-taxed state in the country.

All the focus in the state Legislature in the last couple of years has been on reducing property and business taxes. While that's fine, we most definitely should take a look at the I Love New York tax, the gasoline tax.

It's really an I Hate New York tax. Think of those garish gas prices at every pump as an advertisement for our state. What does it say to the traveler?

We need a nice chop in the state's actual 60.8 cents a gallon tax. The national average is 45.8 cents. So how about tying us to the national average? That would be a big psychological lift for most of us, and a real lift those for those with marginal incomes who need the car.
As Matthew Maguire of the Business Council notes, "It's easy to dismiss the gasoline tax as not much more than a nuisance tax, but there's a lot more to it. The price of fuel directly effects the costs of delivery to retailers and for service providers." That's all passed on to the consumer.

"And it's a tax that sticks in our craw," adds Maguire. Darned right it does.

Of course, I can imagine all my very green buddies getting knots in their boxer shorts over my suggestion that we should reduce rather than raise gas prices, as they would advocate. There's a school of thought, and I am sympathetic to it to a point, that says public transportation will never be taken seriously in this country until the automobile becomes a true luxury.

The killer argument against that view, however, is timing. I don't see any serious effort at implementing or strategizing expanded public transportation going on now, while the tax money is rolling in.

A far more probable scenario is that as gas prices rise, the automobile will become a class warfare item, decreasingly affordable to poorer folks. Any public transportation plan will then be designed for "those people," as it largely is today, except in larger cities.

So I say let's nip it in the bud, and cut that gasoline tax now. An average tax for once will be a sea change for New York, and we could use one of those.

LeBrun can be reached at 454-5453 or by e-mail at flebrun@timesunion.com.

Quoted from 16

I just e-mailed George Amedore, as he starts to get working on this.
Oops, guess I should have addressed this to Mr. (or Assemblyman) Amedore.
Hope he forgives me.

Quoted Text

George,
I realize that high gas prices and the taxes on it is one of the issues that you stated you were going to work on.  I would first of all like to thank you ahead of time for what, no doubt, is going to be a difficult fight.

I was wondering if there was a way, as you start to plan your movement towards cutting some of the taxes on gas, that you could supply me (and the others I would share this with) with the current burden of taxes that are placed on a gallon of gas at the New York State level.  

I would like to know the following information, if you are able to get it.  The amount of each tax, the reason for the tax, and if you can find out in your work, how much money has recently come in for each tax and if it was actually applied to what it was meant for.

It's time for Extreme Makeover, Assembly Edition and we've got the right person on the job.  

Thanks again and I hope that things can finally start to turn around in this state government.

Sincerely,

Kevin T. March
163 Princetown Road
Rotterdam, NY 12306

cc: http://www.rotterdamny.info/b-general3/m-1182081588/s-0/

Quoted Text

Kevin,

I appreciate your support and would gladly get you the information you requested.  Matt from my district office will contact you shortly with the details of the various gas taxes.  If there is anything else that I can do please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,
George

Quoted Text

Kevin,
Attached is a breakdown of the gas taxes. If you have any questions please call the office at 843-0227.
Sincerely,
George

Quoted Text

Gasoline Taxes and Where They Go (Average New York price $2.880)
$0.6180 total taxes/gallon



Local Taxes:  $0.1046
$0.1046 Sales Tax (assumes 4% county sales tax* @ $2.615 gallon)

--  distributed to counties



State taxes:  $0.3294
$0.0834 Excise tax, license fee, testing fee--     distributed: 81.5% Dedicated Highway Fund,
                                                                            18.5% Dedicated Mass Transportation Fund.
$0.08 Sales Tax ($4% tax capped at $0.0          --  distributed: General Fund
$0.166 Petroleum Business Tax                            --     distributed:  55% Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, 32% Dedicated Mass Transportation Trust Fund, 13% Mass Transportation Operating Assistance Fund.

Federal taxes:  $0.184
$0.184 Federal excise tax/L.U.S.T. tax           

*County rates vary between 3% and 5.5%, in addition certain counties have enacted sales tax caps similar to the State’s cap for motor fuel

Broken out by recipient

$2.59 is retained by the gas station  
$0.12 goes to counties
$0.08 goes to the General Fund
$0.16 goes to the Dedicated Highway Fund
$0.07 goes to the Dedicated Mass Transportation Trust Fund
$0.02 goes to the Mass Transportation Operating Assistance Fund
$0.18 goes the Federal government.

Quoted Text

Difference between tax on $3/gallon vs. $2/ gallon
$3/gallon: $0.6226 tax; $2/ gallon $0.5756 tax; Difference: $0.047 tax/ gallon ($0.0089 state, $0.0381 county)


Average State Prices:
New York         $3.218
Connecticut       $3.277
Pennsylvania     $3.085
Rhode Island     $3.085
Maine                $3.113
Massachusetts   $3.050
Vermont            $3.045
New Hampshire $3.012
New Jersey        $2.950


Gas Tax Descriptions and Rates:

Sales and Use Taxes (County and State):  Tax is imposed on the sale of any tangible personal property sold within the State.  The tax is imposed on the buyer.  The State rate is four percent of the sale price, capped at $0.08/gallon.  County rates range between three percent and 5.5 percent though the median rate is four percent.  Counties are allowed to cap the tax at various rates if they choose.

Petroleum Business Tax:  Tax is imposed on companies in the business of selling petroleum products.  The tax is imposed on the seller of the product when the seller acquires the petroleum product.  The rate of tax is currently $0.166/gallon

Motor Fuel Excise Tax:  Tax is imposed on the buyer of gasoline.  The rate of this tax is $0.08/ gallon.

Spill Tax and Testing Fee:  This tax is imposed on the each gallon of gasoline sold.  The combined rate of these fees is $0.0034/gallon.

Federal Excise Tax:  This Tax is imposed on the gas station at a rate of $0.184/ gallon sold.

Quoted Text

$0.08 goes to the General Fund
$0.16 goes to the Dedicated Highway Fund

Quoted Text

Wouldn't this be a double tax along with the 'tolls' collected??????