Rep. Greg Howard Opposes Mileage Tax on Trucks

Will increase costs & hurt working families

HARTFORD—State Rep. Greg Howard (R-43) on Tuesday voted against a new highway use tax on trucks that will increase the costs of goods and services.

 “This is a short-sighted proposal, that is going to hamper the state’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by increasing the cost of goods that are shipped daily on these trucks,” said Rep. Howard. “During the height of the pandemic, Connecticut residents relied heavily on state trucking companies and their dedicated drivers to deliver crucial and necessary items to grocery stores and homes.” 

The plan would impose a tax on trucks based upon their weight and distance traveled. It’s expected to raise $90 million annually. There would be a series of fees, starting in January, based on truck size and miles traveled that would generate about $90 million per year. Fees would range from 2.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing 26,000 to 28,000 pounds to 17.5 cents per mile for trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds. It applies to travel on roads, not just on limited highways, in the state. 

Rep. Howard said, “As a first-year legislator, I was alarmed that the so-called Transportation Lockbox had been raided or had money diverted before it was deposited over the last decade. Adding a new revenue source, like a truck tax seems fruitless if past budget practices are continued.” 

In order to address declining revenue in the Special Transportation Fund, Rep. Howard and his Republican colleagues provided an alternative in an amendment: transferring $320 million in motor vehicle related sales tax revenue from the general fund to the STF that’s used for road and bridge repair. Unfortunately, that amendment was rejected the STF proposal (LCO 10534) in a 94 to 53 vote. 

The truck mileage tax passed along party lines in a 88 to 59 vote and now moves to the State Senate.