Proposition 6 on the ballot Nov. 6 would
eliminate an increase to the California fuel tax that was passed by the
California Legislature in 2017.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the
Road Repair and Accountability Act into law in April of 2017. It added 12
cents per gallon to California’s fuel tax.
If approved by voters next Tuesday, Prop 6 would stop critical repairs according to Brown.
“Prop. 6 eliminates $5 billion every year for transportation projects, Bridges and road repairs will grind to a halt,” Brown said in a political ad opposing the initiative.
“Prop. 6 eliminates $5 billion every year for transportation projects, Bridges and road repairs will grind to a halt,” Brown said in a political ad opposing the initiative.
California has one of the highest state fuel tax rates in the country. It has had a fuel tax since the early 20th century, and last year's increase put the rate at 55.22 cents per gallon, according to the Tax Foundation.
Californians bought more than 15.1 billion gallons of taxable gasoline in the 2017 fiscal year, according to the California Energy Commission. Since the recession of 2008, total taxable gasoline purchased has increased by 2.5 percent.
Californians bought more than 15.1 billion gallons of taxable gasoline in the 2017 fiscal year, according to the California Energy Commission. Since the recession of 2008, total taxable gasoline purchased has increased by 2.5 percent.
There are just under 27
million licensed drivers residing in California, according to the Department of
Motor Vehicles. The average driver in California purchased 576.5 gallons
of gasoline in the 2017 fiscal year.
This
means that the average California driver would have paid a little over $69 of fuel tax increase in the 2017 fiscal year.
 |
| Data from California Board of Equalization |
Prop 6 would also eliminate a 20 cents per gallon increase in the diesel fuel tax.
According to the Tax Foundation, fuel taxes are 52.22 cents per gallon of gasoline without adding in federal taxes. The only state with a higher fuel tax is Pennsylvania at 58.7 cents per gallon.
The proposition would repeal
last year's tax increase and require voter approval for any new
fuel tax increases. This would lower the tax to its previous level of 40.22
cents per gallon.
Democrats widely supported the 2017 tax increase while assembly Republicans criticized the failure of state government
to pay for road repairs without raising the gas tax.
“$36 billion of your tax
dollars over the last (six) years and none of it went to your roads, infrastructure
or public safety. Now Governor Brown and legislative Democrats want more taxes,
approximately $5 billion in new fuel taxes, and load you up with more debt
promising to put it toward roads and parks,” California 3rd District Assemblyman James
Gallagher, R-Nicolaus, said in an early 2017 Facebook post. “No more taxes
and debt that rob our children to pay for our failure to spend money wisely.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox wants to see Proposition 6 pass.
“Many Californians have to choose between gas to drive to work or groceries to feed their families. That’s a choice nobody should have to make,” Cox said on Twitter.
“Many Californians have to choose between gas to drive to work or groceries to feed their families. That’s a choice nobody should have to make,” Cox said on Twitter.
According to a poll by the
Public Policy Institute of California, 48 percent of potential voters oppose the
proposition and 41 percent are for the proposition, with 11 percent still undecided.
-- Nicholas Feeley
Photo: Gasoline being pumped into a car. (Creative Commons)