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JEAN HELLERAn 8-cent break in the state's gas tax ends Wednesday.
CLEARWATER - Susan Herman spent the month of August compiling lists of every errand she expected to have to run before the end of the year.
"Doctors' visits, dentists, Home Depot, the (outlet) mall at Ellenton - twice - for Christmas presents, a trip to Naples to see my parents I didn't plan to take until September, everything I could think of," Herman said.
Herman, of Clearwater, was trying to pack five months of driving into one as she took advantage of the state's 8-cent gasoline tax rollback for the month of August. Now she wonders whether the effort was worth the savings.
"I figure I saved about $7," Herman said Monday. "I probably spent more on note paper making lists of places to go."
Still, she said, she probably would be at her favorite Hess gasoline station again today, topping off her tank before the tax cut ends at midnight and gasoline all over the state jumps by 8 cents a gallon.
Jennifer Carrera, an interior designer and a nanny in Tampa, called the tax break "very refreshing" as she filled up at a station on Davis Islands. Carrera recently moved to the area from Phoenix, where gasoline was $2.15 a gallon.
While most motorists probably didn't save more than the cost of a light lunch at a fast-food restaurant during the month, the tax cut was more significant for businesses that own fleets of vehicles.
Trish Jewell, owner of John Slaughter Plumbing in Largo, which operates eight vans, estimates that the gas tax holiday saved her company between $144 and $160.
"We buy between 1,800 and 2,000 gallons of fuel a month, so that's a nice savings," Jewell said. "Of course, if we had the break for a whole year, we'd be saving close to $2,000, and that would be even nicer."
On the other hand, Barry Murray, spokesman for Truly Nolan's statewide pest control operations, said his company fleet of about 300 vehicles saved very little and actually might have lost ground during the rollback.
"It seemed like what we saved in taxes the oil companies ripped off in higher pump prices," Murray said. "Early in the month, there was a significant jump in the price of oil, and that didn't start coming down until the last few days, so it hasn't showed up yet at the pump."
Regardless, Murray said, a memo went out to all Truly Nolan employees Monday reminding them to top off their tanks before the gas tax is restored.
According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the Tampa Bay area Tuesday was $1.76, second only to the Pensacola area where the price was $1.74.
The highest price was in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area where regular was selling for $1.90 a gallon. The national average was $1.87.
Paul Thakkar, owner of the Citgo Quick Mart at 301 75th Ave. in St. Petersburg, said he expected crowds at his pumps today.
"On the first day of the month, we sold a lot of gas, and we expect to sell a lot of gas tomorrow," Thakkar said Monday. "Actually, we're seeing a lot of people come in today to top off their tanks."
And Rohanee Seecharran, manager of Shamies Amoco at Nebraska and Seventh Avenues in Tampa, planned to fill up at her own station before leaving work today.
"We've been selling a lot of gas because of the break," she said. "It's been very helpful."
Rep. Bob Henriquez, D-Tampa, in March proposed shaving 8 cents off the state gas tax to help small businesses and tourism in a time of skyrocketing fuel prices. It was expected to cost the state $60-million.
Times staff writer Elisabeth Dyer contributed to this report.