California lawmakers plan to siphon funds from the gas pump to pay for roads and bridges

UPDATED 3/30/17 5:30 PM: Prices at the pump could rise in the near future. That’s if a bill proposed by Governor Jerry Brown and leaders of the California legislature passes.

The governor hopes to raise $52 billion to fix deteriorating roads and bridges in the state.

Democratic leaders plan to do it by boosting gasoline taxes by 12 cents a gallon.

Higher car registration fees and a $100 charge on electric vehicles are also planned to contribute to the new fund.

Don Reynolds with Salinas Public Works says the proposed funds would be welcome.

“[The extra money] would be terrific, especially following the storm. It’s really shown how much our deferred maintenance has cost us” Reynolds said.

Though most locals KION spoke with agree that they’d like to see gas prices go down. They did differ on whether a 12 cent gas tax increase is necessary.

“As long as the additional funds are going towards the repairs, towards the roads, I don’t see a problem with that” Monterey County resident Nicolas Herd said.

Not everyone though is on board. Monterey resident Aziz Popal thinks the government should lower the tax instead of raise it.

“The income level hasn’t gone up, people are not making more than they were in the past years or so” Popal says. “I think that’s not fair for the people or the economy.”

Reynolds says that repair work that’s been done so far in Salinas, Monterey County’s largest city, has been paid for from Measure G and the General Fund. He says it’s helped make up money lost from past gas tax reductions.

“It’s gone down steadily. Five, ten percent a year for the past ten years” Reynolds said. “So we’re trying to backfill that but we can be using that general fund to be hiring police men and other things.”

A state amendment would ensure that the money is only spent on transportation projects. Moving forward, the measure will require support from two-thirds of lawmakers in the assembly and senate.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Californian Governor Jerry Brown hopes to raise 52 billion dollars to fix deteriorating roads and bridges in the state. Democratic leaders plan to do it by boosting gasoline taxes by 12 cents a gallon. KION’s Zach Fuentes explores public opinion and speaks to local officials on the 5 P.M. news tonight.

Higher car registration fees and a 100 dollar charge on electric vehicles are aslo planned to contribute to the new fund. The Governor and legislative leaders hope to raise $52 billion to go towards Californian roads.