Simrill offers ideas on changing the way the state’s gas taxes are computed

With the General Assembly heading back to Columbia in just over a week, discussions are already underway about some of the hot issues that will take place on the sate house floor this session.

With much of the nation’s oil supply — and the price of gas — dependent on global politics, Rock Hill representative Gary Simrill is proposing a solution.

Simrill is suggesting the exact opposite of that — changing the fuel tax from a fixed percentage to an elastic rate.

Simrill says the idea would allow consumers and businesses to better budget out estimated fuel costs, while still funding state road projects managed by the DOT.

Simrill says the plan may be appealing to businesses and consumers as the day to day price of gas at the pump would stay the same — and allowing the state to cash in on lower crude oil prices.