How the gas tax works

March 30, 2013

To pay for the transportation system, gasoline is taxed based on a flat fee per gallon. That fee doesn't go up when gas prices increase. The tax is split between the federal, state and local government. Here's the breakdown:

Federal government: 18.4 cents

Florida: 19.5 cents

Palm Beach County and local cities: 16 cents

Broward County and local cities: 16 cents

In a mileage-based system, the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council estimates a charge of 2 cents per mile would raise the equivalent of state transportation revenues and local fuel taxes in fiscal year 2012-2013.

Source: Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Florida MPO

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