GOP county lawmakers back gas tax reduction; Dems - not so much

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....A Republican-backed proposal to cut the county gas tax by a dime is facing some tough questions from members of the Poloncarz administration and Democrat legislators.

The 10 cent reduction - as proposed by GOP Legislators John Mills, Christopher Greene, Frank Todaro and Lindsay Lorigo - is being heavily questioned by Erie County Budget Director Mark Cornell and the seven Democratic members of the legislature.

Todaro said the proposal is resident-driven.

"Every day, I hear stories of people living paycheck-to-paycheck because of rising costs and they are looking for any sort of help," Todaro said.

The legislature, four years ago, approved a 10 cent gas tax reduction against the backdrop of rising prices after Russia invaded the Ukraine. The reduction lasted until 2024, but its impact on everyday consumers was minimal while municipalities and school districts ended up with a less tax revenues.

"There was no impact on the consumer," Cornell said.

If adopted, virtually every municipality, school district and the NFTA would see a drop in gas tax generated revenues.

"You would be purposely hurting every town, every school district, every village, every city," Cornell said. "You would be doing this so you can issue another press release."

Not so, Lorigo said.

"We have to do something," Lorigo said. "A dime may not seem like a lot, but it can add up."

Cornell dismissed that notion.

"It's really just a 'lose' situation," Cornell said.

John Bargnesi Jr., the Tonawanda Democrat, said he sides with Cornell.

There is enough data and analytics to prove that the 10 cent gas reduction, while symbolic, doesn't move the financial needle.

"It didn't work before, so why are we looking at it again," Bargnesi said.

Following a nearly hour-long discussion on the proposal, it was tabled by the legislature's Finance Commitee.