County Legislature Approves Lower Gas Sales Tax

The Rockland Legislature passed a proposal reducing the local tax rate to re-establishing the county sales tax cap on to the $2 per gallon level.  The measure approved on Tuesday reduces the local tax rate to the state’s capped level of taxation.

“This is consumer-orientated legislation and will alleviate some of the burden forced on our public at the gas pump,” said Legislator Ed Day (R-New City), who introduced the proposal. 

Rockland residents could see a reduction of eight cents per gallon.  Day submitted the proposal in April when gas cost more than $4 in the county.

“I conducted a survey of many local gas stations and found a 50 percent and more downturn in gasoline sales, a clear indication that Rocklanders are driving to New Jersey to fill their tanks,” said Day.  “We don’t collect anything on out-of-state sales.  It is lost revenue.  We needed to re-establish this cap to do our utmost to keep our consumers right here in Rockland.  Saving up to a couple of bucks per fill-up is a good start.”

In July 2006, Legislator Day successfully lobbied for the State sales tax cap on gasoline, and then co-sponsored legislation “opting into” State legislation that capped the County sales tax rate to the $2 per gallon level.