A tax with bene_¶ ts: Kudos to the N.C. Senate for keeping the gas tax

The N.C. Senate made the right choice by voting against a 2-cent-per-gallon gas tax cut on May 11.

North Carolina's gas tax is sitting at 29.9 cents per gallon and was set to move to 27.9 cents on July 1.

This tax cut would normally be welcomed by politicians and consumers alike.

But with the state's finances in trouble the senators had to make a tough choice.

They made the right one.

The Senate voted against the cut in order to make sure state roads and bridges could be kept in good condition.

But there are more reasons to support higher gas taxes than a well-maintained infrastructure alone.

North Carolina's budget crisis has already led to pay cuts and tension across many levels including spending decreases for state universities. Any tax cuts would just add to the burden.

The effects of less funding have been felt on campus by students staff and faculty alike. Classes have been canceled shifts have been cut  and a budget-consulting company is trying to make the University's finances stretch.

It's been rough.

Kudos to the Senate for not making these bad times worse by forcing students to drive around more potholes in the roads to get to class.

With the revenue the state gets from these 2 cents of extra gas taxes roads would stay better kept and bridges would stay in better condition than they would without it.

If the tax were cut it would add to the state's problems.

If some of the tax money for road repair were gone it would have to be made up elsewhere.

And who knows where the funding would come from?

More funding for roads means other programs and initiatives can be kept afloat.

Plus there are other benefits to keeping the tax at its current amount. In the long run a higher tax could be an incentive to develop cheaper alternative fuels.

True no one likes paying more for gas.

But in this case the extra money spent is worth it.