Gov. Pritzker calling for a freeze of the state’s gas tax

Posted on February 7, 2022

*The state’s fiscal year begins July 1. (Photo courtesy: HOI/ABC)*

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Less than a year after saying the tax on gasoline needed to be doubled and then indexed to inflation, Gov. JB Pritzker says the infrastructure projects it pays for can afford a freeze.

The state’s share of the gasoline tax is now 39.2 cents and is scheduled to rise to 41.4 cents in July. Pritzker wants to bypass that increase in the name of helping the state’s taxpayers – just one idea he floated in last week’s State of the State message.

“This tax cut is just one aspect of my $1 billion Illinois Family Relief Plan,” Pritzker said in Marion Monday. “We’ll also cut the state (sales) tax on groceries this coming fiscal year, putting an additional $360 million back into the pockets of Illinois residents, and we’re providing crucial help to homeowners through a new property tax rebate, giving them back approximately $300 a year.”

The state’s fiscal year begins July 1.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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