You can expect to pay more for gas starting January 1, 2025. Talk about a great way to ring in the new year…not. 

That’s right. A 2.6 cent gas tax hike is headed our way in just a few weeks. Because we aren’t already taxed out of our minds! There is plenty of thanks to go around for this holiday gift. But it starts where you may not expect: former Senate President (and current candidate for Governor) Steve Sweeney. Yep, that’s right. Mr. “I suddenly hate tax increases now because it’s politically necessary” Sweeney. Same one. 

You see, back in 2016, he championed and pushed New Jersey’s first gas tax hike in decades. A 23-cent per gallon increase. The stated purpose of raising our gas tax? Infrastructure. Roads. Bridges. Transit projects. Fast forward to 2024 and our roads and transit system couldn’t get much worse. It’s something we’ve sadly become used to in New Jersey – getting taxed at premium levels and getting subpar returns.

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Fast forward to today’s increase and we’re still being promised transportation improvements. You can thank Governor Murphy and Assembly and Senate Democrats (it was a party-line vote). And it’s not just increasing this year. Nope. The tax is set up to continue increasing until 2029. But don’t expect our roads or transit system to actually improve over the next five years. Failing government projects don’t improve by throwing more money at them. Just look at all New Jersey’s government departments – starting with the Department of Education… But that’s a topic for another day. 

2025 can’t come fast enough. 

For New Jersey,

Elizabeth Nader 

President

Common Sense Club