Yea, I know a groaner riff on that ancient Exxon ad slogan, “Tiger In Your Tank.”

But couldn’t resist, especially since all 14 gas stations in suburban Tigard will start charging a 3-cent-a-gallon gas tax ^[1]from this Monday up until December 31, 2011.

As “up until’s” go, that’s a long one.

The Tigard City Council approved the measure to fund a project that will ease traffic congestion near downtown Tigard. We’re talking abut the interesections of Oregon 99W and Southwest Greenburg Road, Southwest Hall Boulevard and Southwest Main Street.

The good news is that if the targeted funds of $4.5 to $5 million are raised before 12/31/2011, and the improvements are implemented as a result, the tax will be rescinded.

My thoughts:

1. With the price of gas rising so fast these days, that 3% should bring in more revenue, faster.

2. With the construction delays from this project sure to delay drivers, they will use more gas- thus creating additional demand and feeding the revenue engine at the heart of this measure.

But here’s a big but:

3. When have you ever seen a governmental entity rescind a tax before its ironclad cutoff date?