SACRAMENTO
– George Runner today issued the following statement regarding a Board
of Equalization staff proposal to reduce the gas tax by 3.5 cents per
gallon for the 2014-15 fiscal year:
“This
proposed gas tax cut will give Californians a much-deserved tax break
and help lower travel costs this summer. It has my full support.
“Although
I’m pleased the tax will go down this year, it’s unfortunate that
California will continue to have one of the highest gas tax rates in the
nation.
“California
has a confusing and complicated gas tax scheme that was imposed by the
Governor and Legislature in 2010 over my objections. The BOE did not
create this tax scheme.
“Taxes
are hard enough to accept, but when they can’t be simply explained, it
erodes public confidence. This tax scheme is so complicated even expert
tax professionals have a hard time understanding
it.
“Taxpayers
deserve a simple and straightforward tax system that they can easily
understand and won’t take them by surprise. They have the right to know
how much they’re paying and where those
dollars are going.”
The Board of Equalization will consider and vote on the proposed tax rate change at its February 25, 2014 meeting in Culver City.
Elected
in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million
Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more
information, visit
www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.
