Charleston, WV (AP) -- Governor Joe Manchin says a decision to freeze the state gas tax until the end of 2009 will save West Virginians between 50 million and 55 million dollars next year.

State Tax Commissioner Christopher Morris says the estimate is based on the average wholesale price of fuels between July 1st and October 31st, which the state uses to calculate next year's gas tax.

Morris says those figures show drivers will save 3.7 cents a gallon in 2009.

The legislature voted in June to keep the wholesale portion of the fuel tax at 11.7 cents per gallon.

To offset projected losses to the state road fund, the legislature set up a 40 million-dollar special fund, about 12.6 million dollars of which has been spent.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights Reserved.)