House of Delegates Minority Leader Tim Armstead called on Gov. Joe Manchin Wednesday to stop any increase in the state's wholesale gas tax and decrease the current gas tax state residents pay at the pump.
"As motorists change their driving habits to save money, our state road funds will continue to decrease despite the increase in tax rates," said Armstead, R-Kanawha. "It is time for our state government to recognize that tying road construction to the gas tax is not an efficient or effective way to build and maintain our roads."
He said the current tax system makes the state lose money along with residents, calling it a "lose-lose situation."
Armstead asked Manchin to place such a proposal before the Legislature in its upcoming special session, expected to be called sometime this summer.
Manchin, who has previously said he might ask lawmakers to allocate other money for state road work, said the high prices for gasoline are a national problem and there is little the state can do.
"Why don't [Republicans] call their buddies in the oil companies and ask them to lower some of their profits?" he said.
Manchin said the gasoline tax brings in more than $400 million annually for road projects. He questioned where Republicans could make up that amount of funding.
"We're looking at everything possible," the governor said. But he said it is not a workable solution to do away with, or lower, the tax.
"I wish I could," Manchin said.
Armstead noted GOP members of the Legislature tried to end a temporary 5-cent increase in gas taxes, but the majority voted to continue the tax.
West Virginia's gas tax is set at 32.2 cents for each gallon of fuel purchased. That includes a 20.5-cent flat rate tax and 11.7 cents based on 5 percent of the average wholesale fuel prices from July through October 2007, Armstead said.
That wholesale price has risen from 6.5 cents per gallon in January to the 11.7 cents per gallon it is today, he said. If left alone, it will increase again in January 2009, the minority leader said.
With a budget surplus last year of $290 million that is expected to grow larger this year, Armstead said it is time to change the method of paying for road construction.
"These surpluses provide us with the opportunity to shift a portion of the road construction and maintenance budget from the gas tax to the General Revenue Fund," he said.
He noted lawmakers have previously used the General Revenue Fund to pay for road projects, the last time in 2006.
"We simply cannot stand by and do nothing while our fellow West Virginians struggle to make ends meet while trying to fill their gas tanks to go to and from their jobs," Armstead said.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
