Gas tax hike is wrong way to make up deficits

The proposed doubling of the DuPage County gas tax is a moral outrage. It is a regressive tax that is doubly punitive in times of COVID and recession. Those most needing gas are frontline and essential workers, many of whom are the poorest paid workers in the county. It is also a slap in the face to workers whose hours, and maybe pay rate, have been severely reduced during the pandemic but who still need to work on site.

Board members are asking these people to bear a disproportionate burden of the tax loses due to decreased gas consumption at the very time they are facing potential new work restrictions and a total lack of any kind of federal support, including rent/eviction protection and supplemental income while living expenses are increasing rapidly. This is simply unconscionable.

The County Board needs to look elsewhere to make up the deficits, not on the backs of those who can least afford it.

Jamie Smith

Wheaton