Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 33, DeMotte, Jasper County, 15 July 1949 — Gasoline Tax Is Boosted In 15 States [ARTICLE]

Gasoline Tax Is Boosted In 15 States

Indiana Is One Of States To Increase Tax During 1949 Chicago, July 13. Gasoline taxes were boosted by 15 states this year and three others made temporary increases permanent, the Federation of Tax Administrators said today. Missouri, ixew Mexico and North Dakota upped their gas tax rates 2 cents and Washington raised its levy 1.5 cents. Delaware, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania raised their taxes 1 cent, while Nevada and Verr mont increased the rate one-half cent a gallon. This year’s raises in Vermont and Kansas were the second since 1945. The increases brought to 24 the number of states enacting boosts since the end of the war. Idaho, Maine and West Virginia made permanent the increases enacted in 1947 and scheduled to expire this year. The federation observed that higher taxes have not reduced gasoline consumption. The public roads administration estimated recently that 30,600,000,000 gallons of gasoline were bought last year—an eight per cent increase over 1947’s sales volume. States’ yields from gas taxes also were up last year, totaling $1,300,000,000, the federation said. Revenues from the increased taxes will be used primarily to finance construction and improvement of state road systems. Recent surveys in 15 states indicate $16,000,000,000 will be needed to bring the roads of these states to a minimum standard. Mr. Howard Luce of Chicago is visiting Pink Spencer this week.