PETROL TAX IN U.S.A.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 15

PETROL TAX IN U.S.A.

HUGE SUMS COLLECTED. Taxes on gasoline used in motor vehicles in the United States of America for the first six months of 1926 amounted to 84,939,373 dollars, according to the Bureau of Public Roads of the United States Department of Agriculture. This amount was made available as follows: 54,981,677 dollars to State highway departments, 19,338,976 dollars for country 'and local roads, 6,329,413 dollars for State and country road Bonds, and 4,140,998 dollars for rcisceMnious purposes. A total of 3,560,987,586 gallons were taxed and it is estimated that an additional were consumed in the lour States in which taxes are not collected. AH of the State except Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York imposed a gasoline tax, the rate ranging from one to five cents with an average of 2.39 cents per gallon. Since 19697,832 motor vehicles were registered in the six months’ period, the gasoline consumption per vehicle averaged 225 gallon©. Gasoline taxes were first imposed in 1919 when fotir states adopted the tax and derived a revenue of a little more than one million dollars. The practice is now general and the large revenue derived is one of the most important sources; of highway income.—The Radiator.