Auburn officials will add fuel to the debate over high gas prices this week.

City council will talk about the city's cap on sales tax for gasoline Wednesday during its weekly meeting. The meeting is scheduled as a work session, so there will be no vote on the topic. But councilors will discuss whether the city should keep the cap or do away with it.

City council unanimously defeated a local law in February that proposed repealing the cap, under which the city stops collecting sales tax at $2 per gallon. The Cayuga County Legislature removed a similar cap in November, and officials at the time said removing the cap would lead to more revenue for the city.

Councilors Matthew Smith and Thomas McNabb spoke out during the meeting against repealing the cap, saying that higher gas prices will make things more difficult for residents in Auburn.

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill said Monday that city council agreed to revisit the tax cap after three months to see what kind of effects it has on the local economy. Councilors will be able to ask city staff about the cap, but the meeting does not include a section for the public to be heard.

“We want to take a good look at (the cap) and see if it is helping us or hurting us,” Quill said.

The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday instead of Thursday because of Fourth of July festivities. It will be held at Memorial City Hall on South Street.

The city council will also discuss the possibility of building a new public works garage and fire station, according to the agenda.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.