The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-02-02
Important Facts OF Vital
Interest To All Motorists
In Ashe County And NC.

of these cars were purchased sec
ond hand. The average automo
mobile owner pays $71.16 in
special taxes for highway pur-
poses over and above all other
taxes which he pays for gener-
al purposes. This represents
more than two weeks earnings of
the average car owner for high
way taxes alone. Diversion.
therefore, acts as a special pen
atty upon a single class-a class
that is already making substan-
tial contributions to the welfare
of the state. More than one-third
of the total gross receipts of gaso-
line stations goes for taxes. These
taxes tend to discourage auto
mobile ownership and use, es-
pecially among families of limited
means.
Highway taxes are unique in
three respects: Cd collected at
very little cost; (2) collected to
the last penny; and 60 amount to
half the total state revenue. The
automobile owner cannot pur-
chase his license tag on credit.
He pays in advance. He pays
the six cents gasoline tax (tOtal
IA 12c) daily at the pump, and it
is paid to the last penny each
month to the state.
The oil men of North Carolina
are glad to assist the state in
building a great system Of roads.
roads that removed the isolation
of the farm and connect markets
and open up scenic beauties of
the state. The oil industry can
not be justly charged with having
selfish interest, unless an inter
est in maintaining state high
way system adequate to serve the
state, and to promote the gener-
al progress of the state can be
judged as a selfish interest
From the inception of the pres
ent road law, the oil industry has
cooperated with the state in col
lecting and paying the gasoline
tax. The industry has saved the
state many millions of dollars in
cost of collection, and although
more than two hundred millions
of dollars have been collected
and paid in gasoline taxes, not
penny has been evaded or misap-
propriated. Every penny has
been collected and paid. The in
dustry has cooperated with the
state in making the law so tight
as to prevent dishonest operat-
ors from evading the tax The in
dustry is interested in protect
ing its more than five hundred
thousand customers from addi-
tional unfair and unnecessary tax
burdens.
Once the state starts on this
unwise and unsound track of di-
version of highway funds, it is
likely to be kept up until the
highway system suffers from ne
glect If diversion takes place,
it is bound to result in increas-
ing the tax and adding to the
already heavy tax load on the
backs of automobile owners.
The North Carolina Petroleum
Industries Committee, represent
ing more than fifteen thousand
men in all branches of the oil in
dustry throughout the state, OPP
poses diversion of highway funds
and advocates the exclusive use
of all money collected in gaso-
line taxes and in license tags
for highway purposes for the
reason here stated.
The general fund benefits by
about one million dollars per
year from the one-fourth of a
cent inspection tax on gasoline,
from the ad valorem tax on cars,
and by being relieved of the ex-
pense of administering the state
prison system, which costs five
hundred thousand dollars and
which is now paid out of the high
way fund instead of the general
fund. The oil industry at very
substantial costs to itself pays the
tax on all gasoline, regardless of
bad credit losses and losses from
evaporation, leakage, shrinkage
and other causes, but is glad to
continue serving the state in this
manner, provided the funds are
not diverted.