Lazaro Aleman
news@greenepublishing.com
If you’ve noticed a dramatic drop in gasoline prices, it’s no fluke. It’s actually the result of the Florida Motor Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2022, which went into effect on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Passed by the legislature in the last session and approved by the governor, the Act suspends the state’s 25.3-cent tax on each gallon of gasoline sold through the entire month of October.
On Sunday, according to the American Automotive Association (AAA), the average price of gasoline statewide was $3.26 per gallon, and in Tallahassee, it was as low as $3.10 per gallon in some places. The $3.26 per gallon, per the AAA, was the lowest daily average price since January.
The AAA reported on Monday, Oct. 3, that so far the state average price for gasoline had declined 13 cents per gallon since the gas tax holiday had started. Prior to October, according to the AAA, the state average had declined a total of $1.50 per gallon since prices reached their peak of $4.89 per gallon in mid-June.
“This gas tax builds on the previous downward pressure on pump prices, stemming from global recession concerns and underwhelming fuel demand,” offered Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA –The Auto Club Group. “Prices are now beginning to dip below $3 a gallon at various gas stations in the state.”
Jenkins added that although not everyone would be so lucky as to see the sub-$3 per gallon gasoline, all Floridians should expect a sizable discount in the coming weeks.
The AAA recommends that Floridians conserve gasoline by combining errands to limit driving time; shopping around for the best gas prices in the community and surrounding areas; paying with cash, as some retailers charge extra per gallon for credit card use; removing excess weight from the vehicle to improve fuel economy; and driving conservatively, as aggressive accelerations and speeding reduces fuel economy.