A rebate program in which households would receive a check or an outright suspension of the state taxes on gasoline remain on the negotiating table in the state budget talks, New York lawmakers on Tuesday said. 

New York officials are discussing how to address the spiking the cost of gas, which remains above $4 a gallon in many parts of the state. 

"The urgency is yesterday, not today," said state Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat from the Hudson Valley. "They're paying through the nose at the pump. I feel like we have an obligation to do what we can."

Skoufis said both a suspension as well as a rebate proposal remain under discussion, and it remains unclear as of Tuesday morning which plan could gain enough support to pass in the budget.

Gov. Kathy Hochul last week said she would support taking action to address high gas prices in the state budget, which is expected to pass at the end of the week. 

The state is estimated to collect about $2 billion in gas tax revenue and collects about 33 cents per gallon. Overall, drivers pay about 48 cents per gallon when factoring in local sales tax. 

Revenue from the gas tax is used toward road and bridge projects as well as mass transit systems in the state. Supporters of a gas tax suspension want to use some of the state's surplus to make up for the lost revenue. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently backed a rebate program for the gas tax; neighboring Connecticut is considering a suspension. 

Democrats in the state Senate in New York have proposed a gas tax suspension that would run from May 1 through the end of the year.