In the wake of two recent tax increases, Brevard County commissioners are about to consider a third. The county’s gasoline tax could go up to help pay for better mass transit. Bus transportation can mean the difference between making a living and going penniless, said bus rider James Jamal, who was about to board a Space Coast Area Transit bus in Cocoa. “Without the bus, it would be another painful expense in cabs." Pennies could make all the difference. Advocates want to raise the county’s gas tax by a penny a gallon to provide for more bus routes and more frequent service. Gasoline is already taxed three ways in Brevard County. Federal and state taxes add 50 cents a gallon, while the county adds 6 cents a gallon in taxes. “I would probably be for it,” said one man buying gas in Cocoa. “I don’t have a problem with that.” “I don’t mind because there’s a purpose of why we have the increase,” taxpayer Lori Peavy said. If approved, the gas tax increase would come on the heels of two recent county sales tax increases, one of them for schools. “Just last week with the elections, the Indian River Lagoon, our taxes are already being raised for that. So, just a lot of costs in the community,” gasoline purchaser Megan Traficante said. “I wouldn’t want to pay more for gas.” Increasing the per-gallon gasoline tax will be up to the Brevard County Commission, which recently rejected a gas tax increase to pay for road maintenance.

In the wake of two recent tax increases, Brevard County commissioners are about to consider a third. The county’s gasoline tax could go up to help pay for better mass transit.

Bus transportation can mean the difference between making a living and going penniless, said bus rider James Jamal, who was about to board a Space Coast Area Transit bus in Cocoa.


“Without the bus, it would be another painful expense in cabs."

Pennies could make all the difference. Advocates want to raise the county’s gas tax by a penny a gallon to provide for more bus routes and more frequent service.

Gasoline is already taxed three ways in Brevard County. Federal and state taxes add 50 cents a gallon, while the county adds 6 cents a gallon in taxes.

“I would probably be for it,” said one man buying gas in Cocoa. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

“I don’t mind because there’s a purpose of why we have the increase,” taxpayer Lori Peavy said.

If approved, the gas tax increase would come on the heels of two recent county sales tax increases, one of them for schools.

“Just last week with the elections, the Indian River Lagoon, our taxes are already being raised for that. So, just a lot of costs in the community,” gasoline purchaser Megan Traficante said. “I wouldn’t want to pay more for gas.”

Increasing the per-gallon gasoline tax will be up to the Brevard County Commission, which recently rejected a gas tax increase to pay for road maintenance.