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Gas Tax in Georgia To Be Temporarily Suspended Starting October 3

The gas tax in Georgia will be temporarily suspended starting at 12:00 am Thursday, thanks to an executive order signed by Governor Brian Kemp on October 1. That means gas…

gas tax to be suspended in Georgia from October 3-9, following Hurricane Helene
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The gas tax in Georgia will be temporarily suspended starting at 12:00 am Thursday, thanks to an executive order signed by Governor Brian Kemp on October 1.

That means gas will be roughly 32 cents a gallon cheaper for regular unleaded, and 36 cents less for diesel, while the order is in effect.

"As Georgians recover from Hurricane Helene, with the support of our legislative partners, I have suspended the gas tax for the duration of this State of Emergency, bringing relief to communities who continue to rely on fuel to power their homes and necessary equipment," said Kemp.

Gas Tax Suspension in Effect Through October 9

Kemp said the gas tax suspension begins at midnight, October 3 and will be in effect until 11:59 pm October 9. That's also the time Georgia's State of Emergency will end.

Kemp enacted a State of Emergency before Helene arrived in Georgia last week. That was supposed to end today, but due to the widespread devastation across the state, Kemp's order has been extended until 11:59 pm October 9.

The State of Emergency helps with the state's 159 counties in getting immediate assistance.

President Joe Biden also approved a disaster declaration for 11 counties, including Columbia and Richmond, which makes federal disaster funds available in those areas for temporary housing, home-repair grants and low-cost loans to cover losses of uninsured property.

Biden said he's considering calling Congress back into session to pass federal disaster funding after it was left out of a resolution to fund the government last week.

Mary Liz is the News Director and Co-Host of Augusta’s Morning News on WGAC. She spent 11 years as a News Director at an Indiana Radio Station. She has also worked as a former Police and Courts Reporter for The Republic Newspaper and Assistant Marketing Director of Merchants National Bank in Indianapolis. Mary Liz focuses most on local breaking news stories, feature stories on upcoming events, or community-service related organizations and the people who serve them. She has been with WGAC since 1995.