West Chester drivers could save 38.5 cents per gallon of gas under a 90-day tax holiday headed for a Sept. 30 legislative vote.

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, the former state health director, each called for suspending Ohio's gas tax as fuel prices hit levels not seen in years. Acton called for an emergency pause on Monday, Sept. 21. Ramaswamy unveiled his plan Wednesday, Sept. 23, alongside Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley, who is also Ramaswamy's running mate for lieutenant governor.

The proposal would suspend Ohio's 38.5-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and 47-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel. Huffman and McColley said a legislative vote is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 30, Signal Ohio reported. Huffman said he hopes Gov. Mike DeWine will sign the bill as soon as early October.

The stakes are real for commuters here. As of 2020, the most recent data available, nearly 85% of West Chester Township's working population drove to work alone, with an average commute of about 21 minutes, according to the township's Demographic and Development Trends Report. The township sits along the I-75 corridor and is home to more than 64,900 residents. Neighboring Liberty Township shares that corridor.

AAA reported the average price for a regular gallon of gas in Ohio was $4.45 as of Sept. 23. Diesel has been even steeper. Midwest diesel prices broke $6 per gallon in September, surpassing the previous all-time record of $5.95 set in June 2022, according to Signal Ohio. The Ramaswamy campaign put diesel at $6.76 in its press release.

The state gas tax raises about $2.75 billion a year. Ramaswamy's campaign estimated the 90-day suspension would save Ohio drivers roughly $678 million total. The campaign also estimated a family filling a 15-gallon tank once a week pays about $300 a year in state gas taxes. That works out to roughly $75 over the proposed 90-day window.

How it would be funded

The plan would replace lost revenue through an upfront draw from the Ohio Department of Transportation's (ODOT) ending cash balance, then the General Revenue Fund, and if needed the state's Rainy Day Fund, WTAP reported.

Ohio's Office of Budget Management pushed back on that approach. Pete LuPiba of OBM said ODOT's cash balance sits just under $1.6 billion but "supports $5 billion open purchase orders" for operations, maintenance and capital projects, according to News 5 Cleveland.

Votes still needed

Republicans want to pass the bill with an emergency clause so it takes effect immediately after signing. That requires a supermajority, meaning at least two House Democrats would need to vote yes.

House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, a Cincinnati Democrat, said Ramaswamy had not contacted him or included Democrats in the process, News 5 Cleveland reported. Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, struck a different tone, saying she would encourage her caucus to support the measure if infrastructure funding is protected.

DeWine, who pushed a 10.5-cent gas tax increase as one of his first acts in office in 2019, has not committed to signing the bill. He told the Statehouse News Bureau he has asked ODOT for data and wants to learn more about how the suspension would be funded.

If the legislature does not act, Ramaswamy said he would present a bill during the gubernatorial transition and push for passage when he takes office Jan. 11, 2027, according to his campaign.

The legislative vote is scheduled for Sept. 30. Early voting in Ohio begins Oct. 6.