New Jersey Wrestles With How To Aid Transportation Trust Fund
By David Madden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania this week increased its gas tax by almost 10 cents a gallon to help its ailing Transportation Trust Fund.
New Jersey continues to wrestle with how to address its fund, which is just about broke. The organization representing gas retailers in the Garden State chimes in with what they will and won't support.
For the record, the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store and Automotive Association is against any tax increase, although President Sal Risalvato is willing to be flexible, given the dire financial situation.
"If New Jersey does raise their taxes a little bit, we will still be significantly less than Pennsylvania and we can retain that competitive advantage."
Which right now sits at 35 cents a gallon in gas taxes. By a little bit, Risalvato suggests no more than the same 10 cent hike. Why? Because a lot of people who live in Pennsylvania and work in New Jersey regularly fill up in the Garden State before heading home.
One thing he won't support, at all, is a call to tack on the state's 7 percent sales tax.
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