Letter to the Editor: Raising gas taxes not the answer

By Jared Young Castle Dale

Dear editor,
I find it ironic that the current and temporary low price of gasoline has spurred the legislature into realizing once again that the tax on gasoline has not been raised recently. An increase was voted down in 2011 and the can was kicked around again in 2013. Is the fact that a tax has not been raised recently or periodically a good reason to raise it? Are taxes like entropy, will they ultimately increase to the maximum? What about house speaker- elect Gregg Hughes R-Draper statement, “We think that it is a unique time, when gas prices are lower and we are not in a re-election year?” When house and land prices bottom out is that the criteria to increase property taxes? And not an election year? Is this what Representative Hughes thinks of the voters? What about the purchasing power of the current 24.5 cent per gallon tax being only 16 cents? When purchasing power goes down are my wages going to go up to compensate? I know we need roads. I know a recent report by the Utah Foundation estimates it will require an 11 billion dollar increase from current revenue levels over 30 years to fund the states needs. This is debatable. When the price of gas is low people purchase more and more gallons purchased means more revenue for the state. That’s a revenue increase right there.
I believe that inexpensive energy is the basic key to a thriving economy. At my house things are different depending on the price of gas. When gas is high we do not go far from home. No trips to Provo or Salt Lake. No zoo, no concerts, no shopping. No trips to Richfield, Milford or St. George for fun either. It just costs too much to fill up the gas tank to get there. We plan all our business to Carbon County into one trip a month and we eat before we leave. Another effect of high gas prices at my house is our level of shopping online. We purchase a lot more of the goods and services we need over the internet from suppliers with free shipping from all over the United States. My vehicles have changed because of high gas prices. I drive a sub-compact to work now instead of an Explorer. The F150 we so enjoyed was sold and replaced with a car for my wife to drive to work and the Expedition sits 29 days a month. Right next to the camp trailer that is not going anywhere. The recent lower gas prices have been like a breath of fresh air. We drove to Sacramento to see relatives. We actually “ran to Price” to pick up some parts for some equipment instead of heading for the nearest computer. I caught my wife “eyeballing” a new F150 sitting on a local dealers lot. My teenager got to fill his motorcycle tank completely full instead of having to split the gas ration with his two younger brothers and their small 4-wheelers. It has been nice to get a little breathing room for a change. A little less penny pinching and a little less stress out of our lives for a while. We all know it will come to an end. I just hope it is not the Utah State Legislature that does it to us. And if they do. I hope the voters do not forget.