BUFFALO, N.Y. – With a recent spike in gas prices, Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw is reminding that taxpayers are paying duplicative “taxes on taxes” for a gallon of gasoline in Erie County.
His office sent out a press release Friday morning encouraging taxpayers to utilize his “Gas Tax Calculator” to calculate how much the rising gas prices will increase what the government collects on a gallon of gasoline.
“Taxpayers can go on my website, type in the price you paid at the pump, and you will see how much is paid in taxes for each gallon of gas. People have a right to know exactly how much money the government collects, especially with gas prices going up,” says Mr. Mychajliw.
Using the top five cheapest gas stations according to Gasbuddy.com, the Cheektowaga Chronicle averaged the cost of gas in Cheektowaga to be $2.59. Taxes on that gallon of gas come out to be $0.636. Taxpayers are shelling out over $6.00 in taxes to fill up a ten-gallon gas tank.
“When people experience pain at the pump, they need relief, not higher taxes. These higher taxes when gas prices are skyrocketing causes pain for everyone. Unless there’s serious relief, taxpayers will continue getting hosed at the pump,” added Mr. Mychajliw.