Gas prices nearing $5 a gallon have many Orange County drivers feeling frustrated — and now some are questioning why lawmakers voted against a proposal that supporters say could have lowered costs for residents this summer.

Eight Orange County legislators voted last week against a proposal introduced by Legislator Stephen Hunter that would have capped the county's 3.75% sales tax on gasoline at $3 a gallon.

Hunter says at current gas prices, the average driver would have saved about 85 cents per fill-up under the proposal.

“Any relief would be great,” said motorist Diana Bigler, who says she drives throughout the Hudson Valley for work. “There’s so many of us that are suffering so hard.”

“Pretty soon we won’t even be able to afford to go to work to make money," said another driver.

Hunter argues the issue goes beyond just saving drivers money at the gas station.

“Gas prices drive up everything we do — delivery prices, grocery prices and the prices that small businesses have,” Hunter said.

The legislator also says the county did not anticipate collecting the additional gas tax revenue when it built its budget last year because gas prices were significantly lower at the time. Hunter estimates Orange County is now on track to bring in more than $3.5 million in additional gas tax revenue this year because of higher fuel prices.

“This is money that we should be leaving in the pockets of our residents,” Hunter said.

State Sen. James Skoufis also criticized the vote in a statement, calling it “senseless” and saying residents are struggling to “keep bills paid, food on the table, and gas in the tank.”

Skoufis also pointed out that other Hudson Valley counties — including Rockland, Ulster, Dutchess and Putnam — have already approved similar gas tax caps.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus says some lawmakers who voted against the proposal felt the savings would not have been large enough to make a meaningful difference for drivers.

The legislators who voted against the measure were Barry Cheney, Thomas Faggione, Peter Tuohy, Glenn Ehlers, Paul Ruszkiewicz, Janet Sutherland, Robert Sassi and Kathy Stegenga.

News 12 reached out to those lawmakers for comment, but had not heard back as of Wednesday evening.

Hunter says he plans to bring the proposal back again this summer. If approved, then the earliest the gas tax cap could take effect would be Sept. 1.