Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Gasoline Tax Designed For Highway Maintenance

It seems that high gasoline prices have not only arrived in America, but these new, higher prices are here to stay. Because of the jump in the price of gasoline over the last few years, many people are now scrutinizing the different elements that make up the final price they pay at the pump. They wonder why the gasoline tax has to be so high when skyrocketing oil prices already have consumers against the ropes when it comes to filling up their fuel tank and trying not to burst the family budget.

The fact is that gas taxes are quite unpopular throughout the United States, even though when compared to what other countries pay, the rates are quite modest. And, when compared with gas tax rates paid in the US during the 1950s, even after adjusting for inflation, the tax rates on gas are considerably lower now than they were then.

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There are many who say that of all of the various taxes that are paid by a US citizen, the gasoline tax is one of the most fair taxes and most efficient as well. The primary purpose of gas taxes are to raise revenue for building and maintaining public roadways and it is considered fair because those who drive the most, and therefore cause the most wear and tear on the roads and highways, are those who end up paying the most in gas taxes.

The efficiency of the taxes on gasoline comes into play when the revenues from the current gasoline taxes are consistently less than the amount of funding needed to provide the needed upkeep on the roadways in a certain jurisdiction. Therefore, it is a fairly easy and straightforward matter to simply adjust the gas tax to a higher level to make up for the shortfall. Even for those who are not economists, this makes intuitive sense and quickly resolves funding issues for something as fundamental as roads.

Depending on where you live in the US, the percentage of taxes included in the price of gasoline can vary quite a bit. This is because there is more than one jurisdiction in any given region that has the authority to levy a gas tax. The federal government will recover a certain percentage of every gallon of gas that is sold through the gas stations throughout the nation. These collected funds are used to maintain the interstate highways and structures such as bridges, which are built and maintained by federal agencies.

In addition, most states in the Union also impose a state gasoline tax, plus there is often a county and a city gas tax added into the cost of a gallon of gas as well. These funds are then used by the various jurisdictions to construct new roads and to maintain existing roadways and bridges. This allows people to enjoy safe and smooth roadways so that they can freely drive from one side of town to another, as well as from one side of the country to the other.

There is not too many places you can go to in the world today and not hear a discussion on the gasoline crisis that grips everyone. Gas prices are in a constant state of flux. People are spending more and more of their paychecks on filling the tank of their vehicle. There is not much you can do about the price of gas but there are ways you can change your life so that gas prices do not have such a stranglehold on your budget. By learning all you can about saving gas and alternative fuels you will be doing a great part.

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