BUFFALO, N.Y. — Currently there are conversations happening in Albany that could affect New Yorkers in less than two weeks.
As gas prices continue to fall across the U.S. and here in New York, state lawmakers have to move quickly to decide what to do with gas tax relief.
As of right now it's going to expire at the end of the year, meaning prices at the pump will have a noticeable jump in January. However, the state legislature could move to extend it.
Without an extension, every driver across New York would see a spike of about 16 cents per gallon.
On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office provided the following statement about efforts in Albany related to the gas tax relief.
"Governor Hochul is deeply committed to helping keep money in New Yorkers’ pockets as they continue to face rising costs and inflation during a national affordability crisis. The Governor worked closely with the legislature to provide more than $600 million in tax relief to New Yorkers by instituting a six-month gas tax holiday – which is already among the longest in the nation – and will continue to explore solutions to help New Yorkers meet the rising cost of living."
That possible 16 cent jump doesn't include extra tax cuts that were put in place by individual counties. Here in Western New York that includes Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties.
So could this extension happen? 2 On Your Side asked Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes for answers.
"Whether or not it should be extended, is the conversation that I need to have both with our economic team from Ways and Means, as well as some folks from the federal level to see where things are heading in terms of gas crisis," Peoples-Stokes said.
"Time is short, though, is that not something that's going to happen in the timeline that we have right now? Well, if it doesn't happen by the end of the year, there's no reason why it can't happen on Jan. 4."
Currently the New York State average price of gas at $3.48 is 36 cents higher than the national average at $3.12, and Western New York is even higher than that with the average price in the Buffalo area at $3.52 as of Tuesday.