California’s gas tax rose once again on Wednesday.
The tax increased by 3.2 cents to make the new tax total 50.5 cents per gallon.
The tax increase comes from Senate Bill, which was enacted in 2017. Taxes increased by 12 cents per gallon in 2017 and 5 cents per gallon in 2019 due to the bill, making this the third increase in the past four years.
State estimations project the 3.2 cent increase will generate $440 million in revenue over the next fiscal year, and the total 50.5 cent tax will generate $7 billion, which is supposed to go toward road and bridge maintenance and repairs.
Given the economic downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic, a group of Republican lawmakers called for a freeze on the tax a few weeks ago.
But that would have required a vote by the legislature, which never took place
