Cirino Celebrates Passage of Gas Tax Suspension Bill

COLUMBUS— Senator Jerry C. Cirino (R-Kirtland) celebrated 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.

"We're trying to be wise about how we do this. We're going to use the state's surplus to take some of the burden off of Ohioans right now," said Sen. Cirino. "Senate Republicans have always been in favor of lessening the tax burden because we believe more of your money should stay in your wallet."

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

For accounting purposes, the MFT will be reduced to 1/100th of a 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.

Read more about the legislation here.