A gasoline tax map that explains a lot

[left-of-center2012]

The federal and state and local governments collected 40 to 60 cents per gallon in taxes.
The American Petroleum Institute just updated their map showing the combined local, state and federal tax rate in each state as of Jan. 1, when new taxes took effect.
http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2014/02/07/this-gasoline-tax-map-explains-a-lot/?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Perspectives_-_Full_Site

[Sopkoviak]

1. Looks to me like the higher the gas taxes the crappier the roads.

Is that what the map is supposed to explain.

[customerserviceguy]

3. Road crappiness

is determined by so many other things, from weather, to the ways that road repair money is spent. All I know is that we got a lot more for our tax dollars in Washington State than we get in NY and NJ. And I defy anybody to find a state border on that map where there is a greater difference between those two states.

[Sopkoviak]

4. I'll do better than that, I'll give you 2 borders

I live in Phoenix.

Start here and take a drive up Hwy 93 to Las Vegas, continue on I15 to Los Angeles then take a left down the coast to San Diego and pick up I8 back to Arizona.

You would think that Nevada and California were 3rd world countries just based on the condition of their roads.

You can ride with your eyes closed and tell which state you're in.

[customerserviceguy]

5. I was talking about the tax difference

I have no doubt that there is a sizable difference between the roads in CA and NV versus Arizona. It's often a matter of how the tax dollars are spent, rather than how many there are. We waste money left and right here in the Northeast, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that it happens in CA and NV, too.

[Fuddnik]

10. Try driving in South Carolina.

I rented a car in Wilmington NC for a couple of weeks last year, and used it in SC exclusively. I remarked to friends that the car noisiest, worst riding car I'd ever driven.

As I was ready to leave town, and head back to Wilmington to the airport, as soon as I crossed the NC border (on a back road short cut), the road smoothed out, and the ride was much quieter.

SC has the lowest taxes in the Continental 48 states. Only Alaska was lower, but the don't have any roads. NC was near the median.

I live in Florida, where we have pretty decent roads. But, they don't require the repair we needed when I was in Ohio. And we have an asshole Governor who want to privatize them, and turn them into toll roads.

[Demeter]

8. In Michigan, only 19 cents of the state tax goes to the roads

the other 32 cents goes for "other things".

The county I live in is upping property taxes $50/$100k in December for road repair,

because the state legislature (one big Tea Party) is too stupid to live.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. So many maps about the US end up being basically

the same, in terms of states doing X vs Y. While there are a few superficial 'surprise' states, I think this map is pretty much what most folks would expect, and the states that seem to break the general red vs blue mold are probably explainable in terms of specific quirks of the state, such as property tax bases or lack thereof.

[Sherman A1]

6. interesting

Thanks for posting.

I am happy to live in one of the lower taxed states....

[left-of-center2012]

7. Unleaded regular gas locally ....

A chain of convenience stores here in Albuquerque, NM is selling gas at $2.88 a gallon. The average price is $3.15 a gallon.