Lawmaker seeks road tax hike

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The new head of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure wants a dime a gallon increase in the state gasoline tax.

But he’s not sure voters are willing to go along.

Rep. Noel Campbell, R-Prescott, pointed out that the last time Arizona hiked its gas tax was in 1991. Since then, it has remained at 18 cents a gallon.

He has no illusion that his colleagues would approve such a sharp hike in gasoline taxes. And it’s not just a matter of politics: It takes a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate to hike tax rates.

But Campbell needs just a simple majority to put the issue on the 2018 ballot. And he figures he’d better start selling the issue now to get even that margin.

“The question is, do we have enough willpower to tax ourselves a reasonable amount – reasonable – to help us with our road conditions?” he said.

It’s not just a question of a flat tax rate.

Campbell noted there are an increasing number of vehicles on the road that use no gasoline or diesel fuel at all. And all vehicles, not just hybrids, are getting much better gas mileage.

Read more at AZ Capitol Times

Corrie O'Connor