Gasoline taxes in Louisiana go towards funding the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in the Bayou State. The current 20-cent per gallon tax hasn’t been raised in more than thirty years but Louisiana Business and Industry President Jim Patterson is calling for that to change.
“We are suggesting that we need to have a tax on gasoline that is higher than we have right now if we’re going to do anything by way of our infrastructure,” said Patterson.
It’s not very often that a business association calls for a tax increase and Patterson said it’s part of LABI’s strategic plan for the state. And while the majority of the gubernatorial candidates are against an increase, they aren’t alone…
“I’m sure we have members that aren’t going to agree with that, but we feel like as a board this is the way we need to go, and this is what our consultants are telling us needs to happen,” said Patterson.
LABI Managing Partner of Economic Leadership Ted Abernathy said when your state depends on logistics for employment and your roads are crumbling and you don’t have the type of infrastructure you need to keep jobs…
“You’re going to continue to lose people outside the state and so you have to make decisions on where you think the jobs of the future are going to be and where young people are going to have opportunity in your state. Sometimes that means making tough choices,” said Abernathy.
And while LABI’s campaign to increase the state’s gasoline tax is part of their LA23 strategic plan, both Patterson and Abernathy acknowledge it will take some time before an increase happens.
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