Gas Is Shockingly Cheap in Flint, Even With Michigan’s New Gas Tax

We just got back from a trip to Florida, and I was genuinely stunned by something I didn’t expect at all. Gas prices in Flint when we left were cheaper than anywhere we stopped along I-75. Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, even Florida, all higher. And when we rolled back into Mid-Michigan? Still cheap. Shockingly cheap. That’s especially wild when you remember that Michigan’s new gas tax officially kicked in at the start of the year.

What Changed With Michigan’s Gas Tax on January 1

On January 1, Michigan overhauled how it taxes gasoline. The old system, which included a 6 percent sales tax that rose with gas prices, is gone. In its place is a flat per-gallon excise tax that jumps from about 31 cents to roughly 52 cents per gallon according to FOX 2. On paper that sounds like a gut punch, a 20-cent increase that should have sent prices climbing overnight.

READ MORE: New Gas Tax in Michigan Kicks in This January

But that’s not what’s happening at the pump. Because the sales tax was eliminated, experts say most drivers are only seeing about a penny or two difference per gallon. The bigger picture is that you’re now paying one predictable tax instead of two moving targets. All of that revenue is also earmarked strictly for roads and bridges, a nod to Michigan’s long-standing 'Fix the Damn Roads' battle cry.

Flint Gas Prices Compared to State and National Averages

And here’s where it gets even more surprising. As of today, AAA reports that the average price for regular unleaded in Flint sits around $2.65 a gallon. That’s lower than the Michigan average and even under the national average, which is hovering just above $2.81. A year ago, we were paying more than $3 a gallon locally. In June of 2022, we all remember the pain of nearly $5 gas. Today with gas discounts and wholesale memberships, you can get gas for as low as $2.31 in the Flint-area.

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So yes, the tax changed. Yes, technically we’re paying more per gallon. But standing at the pump right now in Mid-Michigan watching the numbers roll by, it honestly feels like a small miracle. Cheap gas, in January, in Michigan, after a tax increase. Not something any of us had on our bingo card.