There’s No Better Time Than Now to Raise the Gas Tax

If you have lived any length of time in the Land of Lincoln you are well aware of how bad the financial situation is for the State of Illinois. The state is way behind in its payments and its infrastructure is deteriorating.  So how do you correct this problem?

The obvious is by cutting your expenses and finding new revenue. That’s the dilemma facing Governor Bruce Rauner.  There is only so much you can cut. That’s where the revenue side needs to be addressed.

What I am about to say will probably make most of you shake your head and say I am crazy for even thinking it…. but here goes.

An immediate opportunity has fallen into the lap of lawmakers and they need to take advantage of it.  With the State’s infrastructure in need of repair and gas prices currently being as low as they are, I feel an 11 cent increase in the motor fuel tax (to 30 cents a gallon) would seem to me to be a good thing to implement now.

The hardship on people would not be as difficult as if gas was still $3.25 a gallon or higher. Think of the instant revenue that could be raised for the state without creating a major hardship on Illinoisans?

I would keep this elevated tax on gasoline until the price of gas reaches $2.50 a gallon. Once it goes above $2.50 a gallon then the tax rate returns to its current rate of 19 cents a gallon.

I know this is not going to be popular, but to get this state out of its fiscal doldrums there may never be a better time to do this. Who knows when, or if,  we will ever get this opportunity again.