Gas prices shoot up across Georgia as nearly-long tax suspension ends

ATLANTA — Gas prices are going up all across Georgia after the state’s long gas tax holiday came to an end Wednesday.

Governor Brian Kemp first suspended the state’s gas tax last March, saving Georgians roughly 30 cents per gallon.

“Well, it’s crazy.  I don’t have to fill this truck up that often, but when I saw what happened, I knew it was going to be painful,” said driver, Will Wetherholt in DeKalb County.

Wetherholt told Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon that he didn’t like what he saw when he pulled up the gas pump.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“I don’t understand with economy and inflation the way it is, why they couldn’t leave that gas tax relaxed a little bit longer,” asked Wetherholt.

State officials say they use the money collected for road improvements.

“This is gonna be painful and we’re gonna see gas prices go up, but they’re still going to be far below where they were last March,” said Dr. Ray Hill, an Emory University economist.

Over the past two days, Channel 2 Action News visited three gas stations across the metro to get a first-hand look at how prices were impacted.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Man kills daughter with special needs in murder-suicide, Forsyth deputies say
• Gov. says he wants to give you an income tax refund again… and homeowners a break too
• 12-year-old Georgia boy hit and killed running after school bus

At a station in Gwinnett County Tuesday night, regular unleaded was $2.59 a gallon, but Wednesday it went up to $2.99 a gallon.

In DeKalb County, we found gas for $2.79 on Tuesday night, but Wednesday it increased to $2.99.

At a station in midtown Atlanta gas was $3.49 on Tuesday night, and remained at $3.49 Wednesday.

When prices go up will vary by station, depending on when they buy their gas from their suppliers.

“I really just bite my tongue, bite my lip until I pull up to the pump and see what’s going to happen,” said Wetherholt.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

After nearly a year, Georgia’s gas tax is back. Here’s what you need to know. The tax suspension saved Georgians about 30 cents per gallon of gas.

©2022 Cox Media Group