With the price of gas soaring, would Albany voters this year approve a local fuel tax? Not a chance.
With the price of gas soaring, would Albany voters this year approve a local fuel tax? Not a chance.
On a bike ride Tuesday afternoon, I came across another petition-signing station in the referendum drive for an election on the legislature’s transportation tax increase.
Every time we fill up our cars in Albany, the required signage on the pump reminds us that there’s no local gas tax yet. But the amount we pay for transportation is sure to rise. How much depends on what the city council, the local voters, and probably the legislature decide.
A hubcap lying in the middle of Walnut Street, not far from a rain-filled pothole, was a reminder that Albany faces decisions about possible ways to raise more money to repair streets.
For much of the last few years, Albany city officials and the council have talked about raising money to rebuild or repair local streets. This afternoon they’ll get an update on moves to collect a monthly street maintenance fee and also the possibility of a local fuel tax.
Returning from Browser’s Books via Pine Street toward Hackleman Park, the bike and I for years tried to avoid the worst potholes. Lately that has not been necessary, because a section of new pavement is in place.
An Albany fuel tax? Forget it now
The crushing defeat of the governor’s and other Democrats’ bill to increase the gas tax and motor vehicle fees tells the Albany City Council something about the chances of a local fuel tax.
Tags: Albany council, fuel tax, gas tax