‘It’s ridiculous’: Washington drivers frustrated gas taxes may be going up yet again

If gas isn’t already expensive enough in Washington, prices could soon be going even higher. In Olympia, the House is mulling over a proposal that would increase Washington’s gas tax by six to nine cents per gallon by this summer after it passed in the Senate March 31.

Drivers are already frustrated.

“I think they need to find another way to get that money. Because between our traffic and then more gas money, I think it’s ridiculous,” driver Nathan Cooper said. “Punishing us because we can afford the vehicle and afford the gas, so what’s another six cents, in their eyes, but you add that up and it just gets higher and higher and then we can’t afford it anymore,” Cooper said.

The tax increase would fund transportation and help offset a billion-dollar budget deficit over two years.

The bill that passed in the Senate would raise the tax by 6 cents per gallon to 55.4 cents. The state tax would then rise by 2% annually to account for inflation starting the following year. Neither includes the 18.4 cent federal tax.

The House is looking to raise the state tax by 9 cents and then index it to inflation.

New gas taxes will hit by July

Both hikes would take effect July 1. The Senate gas tax proposal would raise $1.5 billion over the next six years, lawmakers say. The House: $1.8 billion.

The proposal has bi-partisan support and, if passed, would be implemented by this summer.

Senate Transportation Committee Chair Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) stressed the importance of balancing fiscal responsibility with the need for vital investments in infrastructure.
“There’s no question, as we’re asking Washingtonians to pay more for transportation services,” Liias said during a press conference.

“We need to do a better job of delivering projects on time and on budget. In transportation, time is money,” Liias said.

“People have to get to and from. I mean, what are you going to do? And I see it getting worse before it gets any better,” an anonymous motorist said.

The gas tax would also increase yearly by 2% annually to keep up with inflation.

There would also be an increase in registration fees for owners of electric vehicles would also be hit with increased registration fees.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Washington’s gas tax is already the third-highest in the nation, behind California and Pennsylvania.

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