Some state lawmakers are pushing to increase the state gas tax to help pay for new roads in Texas.
Every time we fill up our tank, 20 cents of every gallon goes to the state gas tax.
Drivers we spoke to were divided, saying either the tax is right where it needs to be, or 8-cents a gallon isn't that much of an inconvenience if it means better roads.
Before we can drive, we have to fill up the tank. With visions of 4-dollar a gallon gas still dancing in their heads, most drivers we talked to reacted negatively to the possibility of an 8-cent per gallon increase in the state gas tax.
"Against," said driver Larry Wood.
"I am not for it, I can tell you that," said driver Susan Cooper.
"8-cents on top of what we're paying now is a big chunk," said driver Lisa Sejnowski.
But legislators who make up the Texas Senate Transportation Committee say the funding to build new roads has to come from somewhere. Gubernatorial candidate Hank Gilbert says the 8-cent per gallon increase is modest considering the 20-cent state fuel tax hasn't changed in nearly two decades.
"A couple of days ago when the Senate Transportation Committee met in El Paso they concluded somewhere along our same lines that we need to increase the state's gas tax," Gilbert said.
The Association of Texas Metropolitan Planning Organization or TEMPO found that currently the average miles per gallon of all vehicles on the road-- cars, trucks, SUV's -- is 17. But in 20 years, the overall average miles per gallon will double, meaning the state will take in less money on motor fuel tax receipts than it currently does even with a projected 12 million more drivers on the road in 2030.
"It makes sense, it makes sense but I would rather they find it somewhere than gas tax. I just think gasoline is where it needs to be," Wood said.
"I'm not going to NOT drive my truck, so if they did it I would still do it, but I just wouldn't feel so happy about it," said driver David Deleon.
"There's probably been a lot of waste that they need to address first before they come asking us for our money but if that's really been addressed and they need more money, then I would rather pay a tax than a toll," Sejnoski said.
In addition to the 20 cents per gallon Texas drivers pay in state gas tax, there's also an additional 18 cents per gallon in federal taxes. That's 38 cents in taxes total per gallon. Still, there are only eleven states that have gas taxes lower than 38 cents.
