Show Gasoline taxes take big bite Did you ever stop to think where your money goes when you purchase a gallon of gasoline gasoline gaso gaso- line If you break it down crude oil costs an average of about 27 cents a gallon Transportation accounts for another two to three cents and refining charges total eight to nine cents Marketing expenses account for five cents of the cost Of course the gasoline dealer must add his margin to cover the cost of doing business and oil companies companies com com- corn com generally make between two and three cents per gallon But one of the biggest bites out of the consumers consumer's gasoline purchasing purchasing purchasing pur pur- chasing dollar is for federal and state taxes And in some states that bite is growing larger So far this year eight states have passed gasoline tax increases already double last years year's number In Oregon the legislature has approved a tax boost subject to voter ratification A survey by the Highway Users Federation shows that the following states have passed gasoline gasoline gas gas- oline tax hikes this year Delaware Delaware Dela Dela- ware 2 20 per gallon Hawaii 35 Montana Nebraska Nebraska ka 1 10 New Hampshire 1 10 l North Dakota 1 10 I South Carolina Carolina Car Car- olina 1 10 and Washington State 2 20 Another measure considered by some states was placing a sales tax on gasoline Massachusetts defeated such a bill but in Illinois Illinois Illinois Illi Illi- Illi- Illi nois officials approved a five per percent percent percent cent tax on motor fuel for the six- six county Chicago metropolitan area Proceeds from that sales tax are earmarked for the Regional Re Regional gional Transit Authority ty The increases in Delaware and Washington mean that motorists there pay a total state tax of 11 cents on oo each gallon of gas the gas the same rate prevails in Connecticut cut Currently this is the highest rate in the country Texas has the lowest gas tax tu 5 50 of all the states |