With rise of eco-friendly cars, Wash. sees slump in gas tax revenue
SEATTLE -- The gas pump is a big deal in Washington state. Every gallon you pump has a state gas tax of 37.5 cents -- money used to build and repair roads.
But there's a problem. The state's gas tax take is dropping.
"This state is really ahead when it comes to hybrids, and we are seeing a fair number of electrics come online in this state," said Dick Ford, chairman of the state transportation committee.
At Titus Nissan in Olympia, Mike Abbott is fueling new Leafs with electricity.
"Most of them are already pre-sold," he said. "They've negotiated a price. Some of them haven't even had a test drive. That's how high-demand they are."
And the feds are demanding all cars get Prius-like mileage by 2025. To keep up would require the gas tax to go up another 15 cents a gallon.
"Actually, I'm pretty much opposed to new taxes, but we can't let our roads go. So I don't know," said Rennie Renfro.
"I've been unemployed for two and a half years. Where am I going to come up with another 15 cents a gallon?" said Dee Talotta.
The state transportation commission was told higher gas taxes won't work; there must be a new system.
"Vehicles in the future -- some of them will not pay gas tax. In fact, you have vehicles operating in the state of Washington right now that do not pay any gas tax. You get a lot of those and all of a sudden, you don't have money to pay for a transportation system," said James Whitty of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The idea is to have everyone pay for each mile they drive. One idea: log miles with a GPS system. But that smacks of Big Brother. Then how about having people self-declare their mileage?
"You can trust some people, but not everyone. You have to make sure that the system works for people you can't trust. We are all human," said Whitty.
Translation: the gas tax will remain until they figure out that fool-proof system.
Oregon hopes to start using the mileage-driven system in 2013. At first, it will only be for electric and hybrid cars. Other states, including Washington, are watching. If it works in Oregon, Washington will not be far behind.
But there's a problem. The state's gas tax take is dropping.
"This state is really ahead when it comes to hybrids, and we are seeing a fair number of electrics come online in this state," said Dick Ford, chairman of the state transportation committee.
At Titus Nissan in Olympia, Mike Abbott is fueling new Leafs with electricity.
"Most of them are already pre-sold," he said. "They've negotiated a price. Some of them haven't even had a test drive. That's how high-demand they are."
And the feds are demanding all cars get Prius-like mileage by 2025. To keep up would require the gas tax to go up another 15 cents a gallon.
"Actually, I'm pretty much opposed to new taxes, but we can't let our roads go. So I don't know," said Rennie Renfro.
"I've been unemployed for two and a half years. Where am I going to come up with another 15 cents a gallon?" said Dee Talotta.
The state transportation commission was told higher gas taxes won't work; there must be a new system.
"Vehicles in the future -- some of them will not pay gas tax. In fact, you have vehicles operating in the state of Washington right now that do not pay any gas tax. You get a lot of those and all of a sudden, you don't have money to pay for a transportation system," said James Whitty of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The idea is to have everyone pay for each mile they drive. One idea: log miles with a GPS system. But that smacks of Big Brother. Then how about having people self-declare their mileage?
"You can trust some people, but not everyone. You have to make sure that the system works for people you can't trust. We are all human," said Whitty.
Translation: the gas tax will remain until they figure out that fool-proof system.
Oregon hopes to start using the mileage-driven system in 2013. At first, it will only be for electric and hybrid cars. Other states, including Washington, are watching. If it works in Oregon, Washington will not be far behind.
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