SWFL commuters hope for relief as law makers push for cuts

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— A potential cut to Florida's state gas tax could provide noticeable savings for commuters and road-trippers, though the impact would vary based on driving habits.

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AAA reports the average price for a gallon of gas in Lee County is $4.24, but at one 7-Eleven location, it's $4.09. If the state gas tax was excused, drivers could be paying as low as around $3.65 for a gallon of gas.

The savings would depend on how often someone fills up their tank. For those who work from home or fill up every other week, the savings will be minimal.

Filling up a 12-gallon car from empty, will save around $5. But filling up 4 times in a month could saving around to $20.

Joyce McLeod has spent two weeks visiting family in Orlando from Brighton, England, is now on an adventure to see Florida.

"We've come from Orlando right down to the Keys, and now we're driving up the Gulf Coast," McLeod said.

McLeod, has taken a trip to the U.S. for multiple years in a row. This trip she's noticed higher gas prices, paying $50 to fill up for every 2.5 hours of driving.

"We always budget our petrol coming here because it is more expensive in the UK," McLeod said.

McLeod said she came in a little over budget on gas spending at least $500 for the whole trip. She said in the future, she will rethink a road trip if prices are this high again.

"The biggest bulk of our budget is the petrol," McLeod said. "It would have been nice to cut off 44 cents."

Commuters are feeling the strain as well. Airieana Hernandez Brown works in insurance, and a majority of her day is spent driving to meet clients.

She fills up her tank every 2-3 days, paying around $50 every time.

"That's a huge increase in my, like, everyday cost," Hernandez Brown said.

Brown could save more than $50 a month if she continued to fill up half a tank at that rate and the state gas tax was cut.

"It would make me feel, like, less tense as far as doing in-person meetings," Hernandez Brown said. "Most of the time now I've been trying to do a lot of virtual stuff so I don't have to actually drive and go, but then I feel like that sacrifices my business of not being an in-person, person."

Brown said she hopes her state congressmen push to cut the state tax on gas and help provide some relief to drivers.

"We should put Americans first, and I feel part of that is by lowering our everyday prices," Hernandez Brown said.

Gov. DeSantis granted a gas holiday in October 2022 to combat inflation. The state tax was cut from gasoline for 1 month.

Drivers said they hope that if the relief is provided, it will be for a longer period of time.