Brick Council Adopts Resolution Opposing Increase to N.J.’s Gas Tax

Gas station pump. (Credit: Robert Geiger/ Flickr/ Creative Commons)

New Jersey residents are a month into the state’s latest gas tax hike, prompting the Brick Township council to adopt a resolution in opposition since they believe local residents would be unduly affected by an increase.

On Jan. 1, 2026, New Jersey’s motor fuels tax rose by 4.2 cents per gallon, bringing the total rate to 49.1 cents per gallon – the sixth-highest in America. The adjustment, which arose with a vote, was mandated by a 2024 law signed by former Gov. Chris Christie to fund the Transportation Trust Fund with automatic increases when the fund is not sufficiently flush with cash. The total state tax for diesel fuel is now 56.1 cents per gallon.

Brick Township’s council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the increase or future increases, stating that with a lack of public transportation options, coupled with the state’s refusal to improve highways such as Route 9 and Route 88 despite a voluminous increase in population, residents are forced to use more fuel simply to travel to work. With the lack of commuter trains, light rail or other transportation options, taxes on fuel disproportionately affect Ocean County residents, they said.

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While one former resident who spoke at the meeting opposed the resolution because, he said, it funds transportation projects, others countered that the funding itself often goes toward mass transit projects focused in the New York suburbs while the local area is ignored.

“I think everybody supports infrastructure improvements,” said Township Attorney Kevin Starkey, who spoke on the logic behind the resolution. “That’s not the issue. The issue is who bears the burden of that. The point of this is, because Brick has one of the highest population of commuters in the state because there aren’t a lot of other alternatives … there’s a disproportionate burden placed on residents here to fund transportation projects around the state.”

The resolution states an increased tax “negatively affects workforce participation, local hiring and regional economic activity if workers face growing financial barriers simply to reach their jobs.” It went on to say the increased “fail to account for the unique commuting patterns of Ocean County residents.”

The resolution passed unanimously and will be transmitted to the governor’s office, state legislative leaders, the local legislative delegation and the state’s 21 counties.