Gov. Kemp Looks To Suspend State Gas Tax As Prices Go Over $4

GEORGIA — As gasoline prices in Georgia hit their highest mark in nearly 14 years, Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted Tuesday that his office is working with the general assembly to temporarily suspend the state’s gas tax.

The announcement comes after President Joe Biden said Tuesday morning he was placing a ban on the import of Russian oil in the United States after Russia's violent invasion of Ukraine.

Kemp said he wants to “lessen the significant impact” higher gas prices are having on families. Georgia's gas price ranks 24th in the United States, according to GasBuddy. On Tuesday, gas averaged $4.13 a gallon in Georgia.

Prices are up 10 cents from Monday, and 62 cents from last week. Gas prices have not gone over $4 since 2008, according to GasBuddy.

Georgia collects a state excise tax of 28.7 cents per gallon on gasoline sales, according to a January 2022 report from American Petroleum Institute. Georgians pay 55.95 cents per gallon accounting for all state and federal taxes and fees.

During the Colonial Pipeline shutdown in 2021, Kemp suspended the gas tax to provide relief while the company recovered from a cyberattack, reported WAGA-TV.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas Tuesday across Georgia was:

• Atlanta: $4.17
• Fulton County: $4.09
• Dekalb County: $4.07
• Gwinnett County: $4.02
• Forsyth County: $4.03
• Barrow County: $3.96
• Cherokee County: $3.98
• Cobb County: $4.01
• Paulding County: $3.96
• Douglas County: $3.98

The increases mark the largest price hikes since Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, devastating the nation's oil and gas industry, according to CNN.