POSSIBLE TAX INCREASE Senate Proposes Gas Tax Increase To Fix State Roads
Reported by: Katy Brown
Videographer: Matt Durrett
Web Producer: Katy Brown
Reported: Feb. 17, 2013 5:14 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
You've probably noticed that prices at the pump are going up.
And if its not bad enough already, lawmakers have now proposed a bill that could make you pay even more.
"We need to have enough money to fix the roads," said Jeff Kessler, State Senate President, "And if it means raising the gas tax a penny or whatever to get it done, I truly believe most folks won't mind paying it."
At 34 cents a gallon, West Virginia is already ranked fourth when it comes to the highest gas taxes.
But Kessler says additional money is needed and has proposed raising the tax anywhere from one penny to five cents.
"I'm against all of it. The gases is too high," said Charleston resident Kay Linville, "We can't afford what we've got to pay now."
Kessler says the revenue from the possible tax increase would go to fixing state roads.
For Lisa McCallister, she lives in Boone County and has a daily commute to work in Charleston, which makes her well aware of the roads and their conditions.
"I have to admit there is a lot, just the road I travel, there's a lot of bad roads," said McCallister, "I know they need fixed, but we still need to be able to afford to drive to work."
So now the questions remains, will your money go in your tank or into the roads?
"Make no mistake about it, you can't fix roads and bridges without money," said Kessler.
Gas prices here in West Virginia have already gone up in the past week and are about 15 cents higher than the current national average.
That spike is caused by the rising cost of crude oil, but the high gas taxes always rank West Virginia near the top when it comes to cost of fuel per gallon.
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