Democrats on the Chautauqua County Legislature have officially introduced legislation to lower the gas tax.

The resolution was prefiled on Friday for today’s meeting.

According to Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, if enacted it would save residents about 4 cents per gallon if prices stay where they are now. Combined with the state’s decision to eliminate 16 cents per gallon of gasoline tax, customers in Chautauqua County can expect to see about 20 cents per gallon of gasoline savings effective June 1.

“We are hopeful that the resolution will pass at (Wednesday’s) legislative meeting. By doing so, the legislature will show it recognizes that every Chautauqua County resident and family, no matter their income, is affected by the increases at the gas pump. To reduce the sales tax by a small amount is not a ‘handout.’ In fact, sales taxes unevenly burden middle and lower income families as a percentage of their income,” Parker said in an email Friday. “The least we can do as a legislature is take this small step and temporarily relieve our residents and families of a portion of this sales tax.”

The “handout” comment by Parker appears to be referring to a comment made by Legislator Dan Pavlock, R-Sinclairville.

During the Audit and Control Committee meeting, he said, “Somewhere along the line, people have to assume responsibility and instead of taking a handout and saying, ‘Well, I will still make all those trips, maybe I can make two trips in one or you know, I have to be accountable in some way and not depend on the government to try to save me.'”

Originally, the four Democratic legislators wanted to eliminate the entire portion of the county’s sales tax on gas; however, county attorney Stephen Abdella said the state doesn’t allow that. Counties can lower the amount to a flat tax of 8 cents, 12 cents or 16 cents per gallon.

Currently, gas prices are around $4.19 cents a gallon. According to the state Division of Budget, the state collects about 33.3 cents per gallon of gasoline. That amount is scheduled to be lowered by 16 cents effective June 1. The change was made in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget.

The state’s suspension of the gas tax is set to expire Dec. 1. The county Democrats’ proposal to suspend a portion would also expire Dec. 1, mirroring the state.

County Republican legislators, who have the super majority on the legislature, have not stated if they are in favor of the proposed tax break or not. During the Audit and Control Committee meeting, Pavlock and Legislator Jay Gould, R-Ashville, both stated they were concerned that lowering the gas tax by any amount could hurt local towns, villages and cities, which also receive a portion of the 4% collected by the county. County Finance Director Kitty Crow said at 12 cents per gallon tax, local municipalities likely won’t lose any revenue, however, they probably won’t gain any extra revenue either.

Pavlock noted that towns and villages may need that extra sales tax revenue to cover their own costs with higher fuel and road material.

Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, said during Thursday’s meeting he felt comfortable with what the Democrats were proposing as long as the suspension would end Dec. 1, but he wanted more time to examine it.

Legislator David Wilfong, R-Jamestown, was worried about the timing. “We’re sort of at the short end of the stick and it seems like we have to act now and I don’t think we have the information we would like to,” he said.

If the legislature does not pass the resolution Wednesday, it could be passed later, however the savings at the pump would be delayed until Sept. 1 at the earliest.