Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Washington state introduces bill to increase state gas tax

Capitol dome in Olympia in January 2020.
Parker Miles Blohm
/
KNKX

Lawmakers in Washington state have introduced legislation that could increase the state gas tax, making it the highest in the country at 67.4 cents a gallon.

The proposal calls for a 18-cent increase a gallon in the state's gas tax, KING-TV reportedThursday. The bill would increase the price by 10 cents a gallon (3.8 liters) this year and another 8 cents a gallon (3.8 liters) in 2022.

Washington state drivers currently pay 49.4 cents a gallon in state taxes and an additional 18.4% in federal taxes, officials said. California drivers currently pay 64.47 cents a gallon (3.8 liters) in state taxes.

“Our proposal is much more substantial than any in state history because the needs and challenges are so much higher,” said Democratic state Rep. Jake Fey, who is sponsoring the bill.

Fey said the funding would pay for transportation projects, help convert diesel ferries to electric and upgrade salmon culverts under a federal order to redesign hundreds of fish culverts by 2030.

Some lawmakers have argued the state should instead prioritize relief aid for residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Republican state Rep. Andy Barkis suggested delaying the culvert projects.

“We’ve got 9 more years left,” Barkis said. “Do you think maybe this would be a year we could reprioritize that money and do some other things?”

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee has not yet determined if he will support the bill, KING-TV reported.

The Associated Press (“AP”) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP. Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text, photos, graphics, audio and video.