Kemp Extends Suspension of State Gasoline Tax

Gov. Brian Kemp extended the temporary suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline and other motor fuels Wednesday, citing ongoing high prices and uncertain economic conditions.

Kemp signed an executive order extending the suspension through Nov. 29, which he said will help Georgians cope with high food and travel costs during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The state can easily afford going without the tax revenue the sales tax would have brought after ending the last fiscal year in June with $5 billion in “rainy-day” reserves and continued from page

$11 billion in undesignated surplus funds, according to a report released last week by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.

“Thanks to our responsible approach in budgeting, we’re able to deliver relief to families fighting through the disastrous effects of Bidenomics,” Kemp said Wednesday, criticizing what he called “failed” economic policies coming out of the Biden administration.

“I’m proud this action has helped keep millions of dollars in hardworking Georgians’ pockets and look forward to continuing to see that impact with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching.”

Kemp suspended the gas tax for a second time in September. He suspended the tax for the first time in March of last year and lifted the suspension last January.

The governor is calling on the General Assembly to ratify the suspension when lawmakers gather under the Gold Dome late this month for a special session aimed primarily at redrawing Georgia’s legislative and congressional district lines following a federal court ruling that boundaries the legislature approved two years ago violated the Voting Rights Act.