There are only a few weeks remaining in Maryland’s General Assembly. And many issues are still unresolved, including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s proposal to add the state’s 6% sales tax to both gasoline and diesel.

• The current motor fuel excise tax of 23 cents/gallon for gasoline and 24.25 cents/gallon for diesel would remain intact.
• The 6% sales tax would be phased in at 2% per year over three years.
• The sales tax would be calculated based on the six month average cost of the lowest grade of gasoline and then applied to both gas and diesel.
• The tax would be calculated after subtracting the current federal and state excise taxes.

As you can imagine, the governor’s proposal has been met with a lot of opposition, especially from members of the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA) and the rest of the transportation industry.

How do you feel about O’Malley’s proposal? We want to know what you think!

Other issues still being debated that concern the transportation industry include:

• Require mandatory off-loading of vehicles carrying perishable products if they exceed the gross vehicle weight limit by more than 5,000 lbs.
• Permit Baltimore City to install height detectors to electronically enforce time-of-day restrictions on prohibited truck routes.
• Authorize the Maryland State Police to adopt certain sections of Parts 385 and 386 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, governing new entrant carriers and carriers declared as imminent hazards.
• Tighten the procedures for public hearings and notice requirements before the MD Transportation Authority approves a toll increase.
• Prevent transfers of monies out of the Transportation Trust Fund.
• Eliminate an outdated certification requirement for drivers carrying controlled hazardous substances.
• Expand the sales tax to dozens of services, including motor vehicle repair and maintenance.
• Make the state’s cell phone ban a primary offense.

If you have any further questions about the Governor’s Tax Proposal, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

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Sources:

Maryland Motor Truck Association – MMTA E-News