Regarding Ted Moore’s well-composed letter titled “Gas tax holiday” (March 17), I strongly support his arguments and discourage the Legislature from enacting a gas tax holiday. It is my understanding that Alaska’s state tax on gasoline has not changed since statehood and is among the lowest state gas tax rates in our nation.
In contrast, due to extreme weather conditions, earthquakes and other factors, road and bridge construction and maintenance expenses are among the highest in our nation. Though encouraged to increase state gas tax rates to be more in line with national trends reflecting inflation, the Legislature has failed to do so, much to the detriment of our state transportation system.
Enacting a gas tax holiday would decrease state’s funds that go to the federal highway trust fund and thus jeopardize the state’s ability to garner the eightfold return on that investment. These funds are sorely needed road construction projects that keep us all safe and provide job opportunities for Alaskans. Further, once the gas tax were repealed, it is unlikely that the Legislature would actively reinstate it at the end of a year, fearing loss of voter support by doing so. I hope that they will carefully reconsider this matter.
— David C. Junge
Anchorage
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