Idaho Senate Approves Gas-Tax Increase

Idaho’s state senate passed a phased-in 10-cent increase in state gas taxes Tuesday in the process of expanding a $20-million road-funding bill from the House into a $127 million plan.

The House bill would have raised registration fees on cars and trucks by $15 each next year, plus imposed new fees on electric and hybrid cars. The amended version from the Senate boosts the registration fee increase to $25, slightly lowers the hybrid fee, and tacks on a 10-cent increase in the gas tax to be phased in over the next four years.

The Senate approved the amended bill on a 22-13 vote and sent it back to the House.

Senate Transportation Chairman Bert Brackett (R-Rogerson) noted that the state faces a $262 million annual shortfall for maintenance of its roads and bridges. Idaho hasn’t raised its 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax since 1996.

(more on legislation raising Idaho’s gas tax . . . )