By JUSTIN STEVENS
Indiana State Director, Americans For Prosperity

INDIANAPOLIS — Americans for Prosperity’s Indiana chapter today, Wednesday, Dec. 3, began informing citizens and lawmakers on the facts about the state gas tax in the lead up to the transportation funding debate. AFP pointed out that the state’s high gas tax is the exception to the state’s otherwise low tax burden.

“Hoosiers currently pay one of the highest gas taxes in the nation,” explained Justin Stevens, Indiana State Director of Americans for Prosperity. “Our high gas tax stands in stark distinction to our state’s otherwise low tax burden. Indiana’s high gas tax means that any further increase could push the state into the top gas tax burden in the region. Lawmakers should commit to finding solutions to transportation funding that do not drive up Indiana’s already high gas tax.”

Indiana’s combined 51.7 cents per gallon is one of the highest rates not just in the region, but in the entire country. Thanks to the combined state sales tax on gas (Indiana is one of 12 states that has a sales tax on gas) and the gas tax, the state is consistently ranked among the 15 highest gas taxes in the nation. Even a small increase could give Indiana the highest gas tax in the Midwest and one of the 10 highest in the country.

“Indiana already has a significantly higher gas tax than Ohio and Kentucky and is only slightly lower than Michigan and Illinois,” Stevens said. “A gas tax increase would make us less competitive with our neighbors and place undue burden on our residents and businesses.”

For more information on Americans for Prosperity, visit the organization’s website.