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Gov. Jerry Brown Friday signed into law a $52.4 billion, 10-year gas tax and new annual vehicle fee intended to pay for fixing the state’s roads and making other transportation improvements.
“Safe and smooth roads make California a better place to live and strengthen our economy,” the governor said in a statement. “This legislation will put thousands of people to work.”
The legislation, dubbed the “Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017,” passed the legislature on April 6. It passed the Assembly with a vote of 54 to 46 and the Senate with a vote of 25 to 11.
“While Washington can barely get its act together, in California we stepped up to address one of the most pressing concerns facing our residents. Our roads will be safer and our cities and towns will be better connected to each other,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, in a statement.
The money raised by the law is intended to fix potholes, repave roadways, reduce congestion and improve public transportation, among other things.
“SB 1 will help make our roads better and safer and help make commutes shorter,” Rendon said.
State Sen. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, the bill’s chief backer, called it “the first major improvement in California’s transportation infrastructure in 23 years.”
The billions raised by the law will primarily come from a 12-cent-per-gallon hike in the gas tax, a 20-cent hike in the per gallon tax on diesel fuel and a new annual vehicle fee called the “Transportation Improvement Fee.”
This fee’s charges include $25 annually for every vehicle with a value of up to $4,999, a $50 charge for every vehicle worth between $5,000 and $24,999, $100 for vehicles worth between $25,000 and $34,999, $150 for vehicles worth $35,000 and $59,999 and $175 for vehicles worth $60,000 and higher.
The new law was backed by a broad coalition of supporters. State and legislative leaders joined city and county officials and local and statewide business, labor and transportation leaders in Riverside, Concord, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento to build support for the legislation.
The Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission supported the bill, as did many business groups, including the Bay Area Council.
“This historic vote will help reverse decades of decline in California’s transportation system,” Bay Area Council President Jim Wunderman said Thursday.
The bill was not without opposition. Democratic Sen. Steve Glazer, whose East Bay District includes Walnut Creek, Concord, Antioch, Pleasanton and Livermore, voted against it, saying his constituents opposed the bill by a two-to-one margin.
Related content:
• New $52.4 billion gas tax plan wins approval from state Legislature
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Raising the gas tax is good environmental policy. Unfortunately, the money will not be used for net transportation improvements. It’s a shell game; pre-existing budget sources will be shifted to pay for generous raises, early retirements, and spiked pensions.
I agree, ex-Hooli. I see Trump is also proposing a similar gas tax to help fund his $1T dollar infrastructure/roads bill. It’s time we start investing in our country, and stop blowing up and rebuilding countries in the Middle East.
I’d be in favor of this tax increase if MAYBE it actually went to maintain roads.
Of course we know that’s not going to happen.
I still don’t see how the taxes are based on the value of the car. Like a more expensive car wears out the roads faster or something.
Totally unfair.. but whatever.. every time liberals cry it’s too expensive for people to live in California realize you are making it more expensive with acts like this.
“Totally unfair.. but whatever.. every time liberals cry it’s too expensive for people to live in California realize you are making it more expensive with acts like this.”
-Completely agree and I am a liberal myself.
This is a tax on the poor to lower middle class and middle class (i.e., what’s left of the working class). Every one else in the upper middle class and upper class won’t even feel it.
My point exactly! The poor who can’t afford to live near work are going to be paying a disproportionate large share of this tax while the rich gets free access to the commute lane with their luxury electric cars built using taxes from the working stiff.
And somehow this is fair?