Uchikura & Co., LLC

Today, I’ve been seeing posts online saying that in some states gas prices have dropped below three dollars a gallon. That sounds great—but unfortunately, not here in Washington. Just the other day, I filled up at a Safeway gas station and paid $4.50 per gallon.

 

Now, because I drive a hybrid, my tank only holds about 11 gallons at most. So even though the price per gallon is high, the total amount I spend isn’t overwhelming. I can still manage it. But I can’t help thinking about people who rely heavily on their cars for work—delivery drivers, contractors, salespeople who travel to meet clients. For them, these prices are far from reasonable.

 

I don’t want to turn this into a constant complaint about government policies, but it’s hard not to notice the role taxes play in these prices. The way fuel is taxed, and the way that tax revenue is spent, often feels disconnected from the everyday realities of small businesses. Policymakers talk about environmental goals and large-scale projects, but most small business owners I know don’t have the luxury to think about the environment first. Their priority is simple: making sure their employees get paid and that the business can survive another month.

 

That’s why high gas prices hit small businesses so hard. It isn’t just about fuel—it’s about cash flow, payroll, and survival. If the government truly wants to support small businesses, they need to understand this perspective. Paychecks should come before taxes, and policies should reflect the real struggles of those who don’t have big budgets or large profit margins to absorb these costs.