NC lawmakers pass gas tax suspension but it could be a while before drivers see relief

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Governor Josh Stein is expected to sign the Relief at the Pump Act which will suspend North Carolina’s gas tax.

AAA says the price of gas in North Carolina is averaging $4.12 and diesel is $5.99 per gallon.

“I think it’s a little too high for us,”Bernard Doe from Charlotte said. “I guess hopefully things will change.”

North Carolina lawmakers voted to pause the gas tax Wednesday in a special session in Raleigh. Consumers normally pay an extra .41 cents per gallon. The retailer pays the tax to the state. The tax money funds road repairs and infrastructure.

“Regardless of what party you’re with, I think gas is one of those things that everybody can agree. The gas prices can get lower,” Shayla Roberts from Charlotte said.

The Relief at the Pump Act will suspend the tax until November 30th.

“It’ll go right back and put people right back into the same situation. ’cause even after November the 30th, you still have to drive, you still have to work, you still have to commute,” Angela Peele from Charlotte said.

Gas prices are a hot button issue with midterm elections right around the corner.

“They playing the blame game, so, you know, it’s kind of hard on that situation,” Antione Duncan from Charlotte said. “I mean, if they say we have a lot of, um, barrels of oil, you know, I’m not understanding why the prices are so high.”

Democrat State Representative Jordan Lopez represents parts of Mecklenburg County. He did vote to suspend the gas tax, but tells WCCB he thinks the republican-led action was performative.

“You’re calling for a special session to do something that you could have did last week, that you could have did last month, that you could have did in July before we left for the interim session,” Representative Lopez said. “This could have been done a long time ago and Republicans are trying to act like heroes to a crisis that their President caused.”

Republican State Representative Donnie Loftis, represents parts of Gaston County.
He sponsored the gas tax suspension bill.

“I can’t say that we waited to this moment to make it look very political. I’m not into that kind of stuff. I’m mean into providing great relief,” Representative Loftis said. “10 gallons, 41 cents, $4.10. That sounds pretty good to me…it is economically motivated to impact the citizens of North Carolina in a positive manner.”

Drivers tell me that while they’re grateful for short term relief, it’s not enough.

“They need to come up with something to solve the problem and not put a bandaid on it,” Angela Peele Charlotte resident said.

Representative Loftis says it could take time to see actual savings from suspending the gas tax.

“Everything in the ground now are in their tanks now until they get a new shipment that will still be at the regular price. These new shipments coming out after the governor signs the bill, they will be the ones when it hits their tank, that’s when you’ll see those gas prices lower,” Representative Loftis said. “You’ll see that lower probably in the urban areas because there are many more people driving there, than in rural North Carolina.”

Governor Stein is expected to sign the bill to suspend the gas tax on Friday October 9th.