Senator Johnson approves gas tax suspension

COLUMBUS—Senator Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) announced the passage of a bill suspending Ohio's 38.5 cent per gallon gas tax and 47 cent per gallon diesel tax for 90 days.

Ohioans are estimated to save more than $725 million in fuel taxes at the pump.

"Government cannot control every price a family faces. But when we can lessen a burden, even temporarily, we should be willing to do so," said Senator Johnson. "That's why I was proud to support a suspension of the state's gas and diesel tax. We had the opportunity to provide practical relief, and that's what this legislation does."

The MTF (Motor Fuel Tax) suspension covers gas and diesel only.

For accounting purposes, the MFT will be reduced to .0001 cent per gallon, which also protects certain border counties from seeing unintended tax consequences due to neighboring states levying their own tax on fuel sold into Ohio if no other tax is levied.

Highway construction projects and local governments will not be negatively affected by the gas tax suspension as budget surpluses from this fiscal year will cover the tax holiday.

The state's "Rainy Day Fund" otherwise known as the Budget Stabilization Fund will not be needed.

"This represents significant savings that hard working families need now more than ever," said Senate President Rob McColley. "Senate Republicans have a long history of reducing the tax burden ranging from reducing income taxes to enacting significant property tax reforms and this reinforces our belief that your paycheck starts with you instead of the government."

Senator Johnson represents the 14th District in the Ohio Senate, which encompasses all of Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Scioto counties.