Local gas station owner, drivers favor Biden gas price plan

HOLLISTON, Mass. — Eleven years ago, Ed Chula opened Holliston Gas & Market, which, he said, has the lowest prices in town for gasoline.

At $4.87 a gallon Wednesday, Chula’s station was, indeed, the cheapest in Holliston – with one competitor charging upwards of $0.50 more a gallon.

“I never thought that I would come anywhere closer to where we’re at right now,” Chula said. “I mean between this year and last year, we’re up almost 70 percent.”

Chula regards his customers like family, he said, and so he is hopeful Congress will go along with President Biden’s plan to lower the cost of gas by temporarily eliminating the federal tax on gas – which currently runs about $0.18 a gallon. If that happens, Chula said he’ll pass the savings directly on to customers.

Chula also favors the state following suit – suspending its tax of $0.24 a gallon.

“I think the state could afford it,” he said “Chip the taxes down for a few months, let everybody at least put food on the table – that’s what it’s come down to.”

Chula, however, is not convinced the political will exists to make a move on gas taxes.

“It seems where people work paycheck to paycheck, it’s a lot harder for them because certain money has to be set aside for gasoline, certain money for groceries,” Chula said. “And it seems politicians base things on what they make, not what normal people make – and there’s no comparison.”

Brian Kelly, of Medway, is one of those “normal” people. He’s a special education teacher at Medway High School. He also owns a truck that takes 25 gallons to fill – so the prospect of saving a buck a gallon? Kelly’s all for it.

“When you fill a 25-gallon tank, that’s 25 bucks,” he said. “That’s 25 bucks, So that’s 25 bucks in your pocket. I think that will help families, and it will help people who need that $25.”

Kelly said saving on gas would mean more going out for ice cream at his house.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Wendy Schneider, a Massachusetts driver. “Honestly, I lived through the 70s when you had to be in line at 6 o’clock in the morning, depending on your license plate and whatever. So I’ve gone through that prices go up and down. Is it good that it’s as high as it is? No, but there’s a lot of reasons why.”

Schneider said she wouldn’t anticipate saving a dollar a gallon would affect her much, given the limited driving she does, but knows it would cut some families a needed break.

“I think if a dollar could come off that would help a lot of people, because I know a lot of people are having a challenging time,” she said.

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