Strickland Proposes to Cut Gas Sales Tax

Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) has introduced a bill that would reduce California sales taxes on gasoline and, he estimates, save the state’s motorists about $400 million a year.

Federal and state excise taxes add about 36 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas. California then figures its sales tax on that amount. Strickland’s bill, co-sponsored with Assemblyman Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield), would tax only the retail price of gas, not the gas with the excise taxes included.

Strickland called the current practice “government double-dipping at the expense of taxpayers.” California motorists could buy three full tanks of gas a year with the money his bill would save them, said Strickland, who represents the cities of Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks.

Previous attempts at ending the double-taxing of gasoline have failed in the Legislature, but Strickland predicted the recent hike in gas prices will generate support for his bill.