MERIDEN, Conn. — Drivers may notice the prices at the pump are going up Wednesday. That's because the gas tax is incrementally coming back, adding another five cents per gallon starting Feb. 1.
Gov. Ned Lamont approved a gas tax holiday last year which got rid of the 25-cent tax per gallon in order to try and combat high prices at the pump. But now that the tax holiday is over and prices are increasing, again.
The gas tax holiday officially ended on Dec. 31, and at the start of the new year, prices went up 5 cents per gallon, with a total of 10 cents per gallon back on the price tag this February.
The tax will incrementally increase, adding five cents a gallon at the start of each month until the full 25-cent gas tax is back on May 1.
The gas tax holiday was originally proposed in response to prices that were skyrocketing last spring, allowing drivers to save a few dollars or so at the pump when they filled their tanks.
According to AAA, the highest average price in Connecticut was $4.98 per gallon for regular back in June.
Now the average price sits at around $3.36 per gallon, but that's up 20 cents from last month, despite the gas tax only increasing by 5 cents a gallon.
Drivers said with the cost of just about everything going up, they're struggling.
"I’m literally having to give up food, I work a full-time job and I’m having to sacrifice other necessities just so I can work and be able to make it to work," said Dana Schneider of Waterbury.
For diesel customers, the gas tax holiday never applied. The average diesel price as of Wednesday is a little over $5 per gallon.
The next 5-cent per gallon increase is set for March 1.
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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