ORLANDO, Fla. — Since gas prices have soared — jumping up by about a dollar compared to a year ago — Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing a relief strategy: pausing the state’s 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax for five months, starting in July. 

What You Need To Know

  • According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price of gas in Florida is up by about $1 from what it was a year ago

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the state’s $0.25 per gallon gas tax to paused for five months

  • For those like Uber driver Tatiana Lopez, it could come as some financial relief 

Tatiana Lopez has been driving for Uber and Lyft full-time for a few years and to make the pay worthwhile, she works long hours and takes many trips to pick up many different passengers.

“The goal is to do at least 30 trips a day,” Lopez said. “I can do five trips in, like, 20 minutes if they’re really close by."

By doing so, she earns enough money to make sure her bills and mortgage are paid and her family's needs are met. However, as prices at the pump increase, the single mother of two is one of the first people to feel it in her family’s budget.

The higher cost averages to about $30 per day, and that figure could fluctuate, which has Lopez liking the idea of any tax breaks. And a tax break is exactly what DeSantis is asking legislators to do.

Because of the $1 billion federal stimulus, he said the transportation projects gas tax revenue wouldn’t be affected.

“Oh yeah, that would definitely help my budget,” Lopez said. “We shouldn’t pay tax at all for any gas, I think."

Driving won’t be her profession forever — Lopez hopes to go into ministry and become an evangelist. That will take a few months, so for now she’s making as many trips as possible, and she feels every penny saved is just one more cent she can give to her family.