Gov. Perdue suspends gas tax — on off-road and farming vehicles
May 12, 2008 at 9:44 am by Thomas Wheatley in NewsProving that Gov. Sonny Perdue and Sen. John McCain are kindred spirits destined to be together, the Man From Bonair signed an executive order this morning suspending the state gas tax on diesel fuel sold for such off-road purposes as agriculture and timber farming. It stands until the 2009 legislative session, by which time Perdue will be just receiving his Vice Presidential letterhead and monogrammed bathrobe.
Says the governor:
“Our farmers have borne the brunt of this multi-year drought, and now face record fuel prices during our planting season. Suspending this tax will bring needed relief to our state’s largest industry.â€
A word from the gentleman with the coolest name in Georgia (emphasis added).
“Suspension of the sales tax on off road diesel fuel would help farmers, it would promote a major segment of our state’s economy, and it would allow for more money to be spent in local rural economies,†Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall wrote in a letter to the Governor.
The suspension is estimated to offset state revenues by $2 million to $4 million.
Full text of the executive order after the jump.
Whereas: The price of dyed fuel oils, as used primarily for off road, agricultural uses, including timber growing or harvesting, has risen substantially; and
Whereas: This spike in the price of dyed fuel oils has produced an acute strain on Georgia’s agricultural and timber growing or harvesting sectors; and
Whereas: These circumstances make it appropriate to exercise the authority vested in the Governor pursuant to Code Section 45-12-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, to suspend the collection of taxes, or any part thereof, due the state; and
Whereas: Suspension of the collections of state sales and use taxes on dyed fuel oils used for off road purposes may give additional incentive to certain individuals to purchase tax-exempt motor fuel from a licensed distributor designated and formulated for non-highway use and to subsequently use or permit the motor fuel to be used for highway purposes, such activity being unlawful pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-9-17; and
Whereas: The public is hereby reminded that any person who violates O.C.G.A. § 48-9-17 “shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $10,000.00 or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 12 months, or both.â€
Now, therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby
Ordered: That the collection of the 4% state sales and use tax as that tax applies to sales of dyed fuel oils as defined in paragraph 5.1 of Code Section 48-9-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated which is used exclusively for agricultural and timber growing or harvesting purposes and not for highway use as defined in paragraph (8) of Section 48-9-2, be suspended commencing with all sales occurring immediately following the last moment of May 11, 2008, until the General Assembly acts upon this Order.
This 12th day of May, 2008.
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