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.
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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
