California Votes to Raise its State's Gas Tax

Gas tax going up as state tries to level revenue

California drivers, who pay some of the highest gasoline taxes in the nation, can expect to spend an additional 3.5 cents on every gallon starting this summer.

State tax regulators approved the increase this week, in part to keep tax revenue steady as the demand for gasoline drops. It adds up to around $21 a year for a driver who gets 23 mpg and puts 14,000 annual miles on the odometer, both of which are rough national averages.

Interesting that a State that has pushed drivers, via taxation and public awareness to drive less, has (by mere implication that the state is falling short in gas-tax-revenue) decided to increase the tax on gas to make up for that loss.

So it is a lose-lose situation. Drive less; for whatever reasons, it matters not; and the Government will just raise the tax to make up for its citizens being environmentally or economically conscious.

Something I saw repeatedly over the years of trucking was something worth mentioning for this. Needles, California and Havasu, Arizona are only a few miles apart in terms of what the official location of the Pilot and Loves truck stops are on the Arizona side.

I repeatedly saw California C.H.P. crossing into Arizona and getting gas at the pumps there. This was at least 2 years ago for prices and I had seen it for a few years running, at least.

It makes quite a statement when a state's own State Police are going out of state for their gas..and it's only gotten worse.

reply to post by ownbestenemy


Glad I'm not out there anymore.

I did the math one day last year and it was something like $0.75 of every gallon was taxes in that State.
I hate California.

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Something I saw repeatedly over the years of trucking was something worth mentioning for this. Needles, California and Havasu, Arizona are only a few miles apart in terms of what the official location of the Pilot and Loves truck stops are on the Arizona side.

I repeatedly saw California C.H.P. crossing into Arizona and getting gas at the pumps there. This was at least 2 years ago for prices and I had seen it for a few years running, at least.

It makes quite a statement when a state's own State Police are going out of state for their gas..and it's only gotten worse.

When I used to drive from NM to CA for my kids I dreaded the return trip home, Gas in AZ or NM? 2.xx/gallon. Cali? 3.xx/gallon (that was of course about 6 years ago. Even now, my trek from Nevada to California I despise that I have to fill up in California. I try to make it at least to a decent stop to get a price that isn't outrageous but now it seems, I will suffer no matter what.

Oh and I didn't even go down the 1984 road with the "Board of Equalization"; given its financial term, it is a board designed to take from one to balance out for the public good.

This is what they call a win-win-win for California:

1 Higher prices at the pump is forced conservation for the church of climatology.
2. More cash for the welfare state.

Higher prices will lead to less economic output, job loss, and increased welfare programs.

Flawless victory for the progressive state.

This is a perfect example of why I never try to conserve on anything. Our local electric company has ads on T.V. urging people to conserve electricity.Why bother, if people conserved and used half of what they use now the electric company will just raise their rates to make up for the lost revenue.
The cost of maintenance for the lines and equipment as well as gas and maintenance for the service trucks and employee salaries will remain the same no matter how much or how little electric we use.

This is also fun to read: From CNN about who gets what when a gallon of gas is sold.

Traders? Depends but it isn't based on the price per gallon. They are speculating on the crude oil prices. Isn't a factor.

Refining Companies? $0.24 per gallon

Logistics? Roughly $0.20 per gallon and depends heavily on the price of gasoline; go figure right?

Gas Stations? $0.07 to $0.10 per gallon. Mind you, that isn't profit.

Government? $0.40+ (varies from State to State; $0.18 is Federal and the rest is State). Double any of the supply chain after it is has been explored and extracted.

That by the way, one would expect to get the most return since they are the most heavily invested. It is estimated that the companies that actually have the oil drills, the workers, the R&D, the exploration, etc; take about $2.00 in the total price. Though I am curious how CNN came to that.

Also to note: It is easy to point to "record profits" and they indeed, are seeing them. But the profit margin (costs v. profit) is still less then companies that make Tylenol....where is the uproar there?

anybody seen Detroit lately?








this is what you have when tax and spend libtards are in charge.

good luck california...

Originally posted by Tardacus
This is a perfect example of why I never try to conserve on anything. Our local electric company has ads on T.V. urging people to conserve electricity.Why bother, if people conserved and used half of what they use now the electric company will just raise their rates to make up for the lost revenue.
The cost of maintenance for the lines and equipment as well as gas and maintenance for the service trucks and employee salaries will remain the same no matter how much or how little electric we use.

I noticed that my electric provider is always offering ways for the home owner to conserve, esp. during peak usage. I thought this was so they could provide the max supply to their commercial clients. It would seem that more use equals more money for them so why would they want you to limit your use?

I do like your angle though, that makes sense to me.

reply to post by ownbestenemy


Uh,
Dont the citizens have to vote on tax increases? I didnt think that a government agency could just it on a whim like they are doing here.

reply to post by ownbestenemy


California is kind of like a national laboratory for concepts that may seem revolting or even utterly ridiculous to the rest of the nation. Excessive taxation, heavy government regulation, anti-constitutional expectations... it all fits with a state that has never really fit well with the rest of the country.

On one side, if it does well there, you may expect it in New York and Florida next. If it fails, it just means that it will flounder about until it is reconstituted and tried again, lol.

Unfortunately, the concept of how this republic was designed... has been largely discarded. In the concept of states that secede, California would be one that could both succeed and be unique... not just against its former participation but against most of the world.

reply to post by ownbestenemy


:shk: Why not just get rid of the overpaid people running the cities and counties all over the state. Cancel the unnatural benefits they are getting. Stop funding projects that are only used by a few people. Quit adopting unneeded projects that cost so much......A thousand five thousand dollar projects is a lot of money. Look at cumulative costs, don't raise taxes more than needed.

Originally posted by rangersdad
reply to post by ownbestenemy

 

Uh,
Dont the citizens have to vote on tax increases? I didnt think that a government agency could just it on a whim like they are doing here.

Typically they do but the "Board of Equalization" is an actual state constitution function. Article 13, Sections 17-19 describe its scope and function.

SEC. 17. The Board of Equalization consists of 5 voting members:
the Controller and 4 members elected for 4-year terms at gubernatorial elections. The State shall be divided into four Board of Equalization districts with the voters of each district electing one member. No member may serve more than 2 terms.

Section 18 is where they derive their authority to equalize the tax on gasoline.

So the People did authorize a Government board to do this.....what does that say about the People?