Kendall County Times

“After driving up taxes across the state for decades, Illinois Democrats now expect praise for temporarily delaying a 2 cent gas tax increase,” Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora) wrote on Facebook. “If our colleagues on the other side of the aisle really want to make a difference, they should join us in fighting for responsible state budgets and lasting tax relief for Illinois families.”

AAA reported the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Illinois is $4.970 as of May 25. Gas prices in Kendall County average $4.999 per gallon.

“Gasoline is $1.05 more than it was on Feb. 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine,” AAA spokesperson Molly Hart said in a news release, Rockford Register Star reported. “That sent shock waves through the oil market that have kept oil costs elevated. Domestically, meanwhile, seasonal gas demand is rising as more drivers hit the road, despite the pain they face paying at the pump.”

Illinois Policy reported the gas tax increase delay is part of a bundle of tax rebates and delays in the record $46.5 billion FY 23 budget. The tax rebates and delays will save the average Illinois family $556. The 2.2 cents increase to the gas tax will take effect on January 2023, and will be followed by another increase in July 2023, likely of 3.8 cents per gallon, bringing Illinois’ total gasoline tax up to 45.2 cents per gallon.

“I went to the Shell gas station that is less than a block from my house and gas was $4.49 a gallon,” Brett Retherford, an Illinoisian, said to Illinois Policy. “When my wife and I woke up the next morning it jumped 30 cents overnight to $4.79. Occasionally I get stuck buying gas on the Illinois side. I try not to, but I can’t be the only one who does everything they can to avoid it.”

Pritzker doubled Illinois’ gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019 while instituting an annual gas tax increase. Illinois Democrats have passed legislation that will postpone this year's scheduled gas tax increase of 2.2 cents from July to January.

The bill will require gas stations to put stickers on gas pumps notifying Illinoisans of the postponement. Gas stations will be fined $500 per day if they refuse to display the stickers. 

Advantage News reported the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association (IFRA) is suing over the sticker mandate, seeking a temporary restraining order for when the bill takes effect.

“At the end of the day, we hope to get the law permanently struck down but in the meantime, we’re looking for hopefully a temporary restraining order against the state from enforcing this law when it goes into effect July 1,” Josh Sharp, IFRA president and CEO, said to Advantage News.

Sharp called the mandatory stickers “free election year advertising for the Governor.”