Drivers who curse when they hit bad freeway stretches may do the same at the gas pumps later this year.
Not only is the state's gas tax going way up, but so are vehicle fees.
The money will be spent on fixing highways, roads and bridges, and mass transit needs.
Democratic super-majorities in both houses of the Legislature barely got the required two-thirds vote to push Senate Bill 1 through last week.
“This is pay as you go, this is fiscal discipline,” says Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-78th District), a co-author of the legislation.
It's been 23 years since lawmakers boosted gas taxes and vehicle fees.
Now, California's backlog of transportation repairs and replacement costs is pegged at $130 billion dollars.
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SB-1 is projected to raise $52 billion over ten years, a figure Gloria says felt more “comfortable” for Gov. Brown and the Democrats to go for right now.
As it is, all but one of the Republicans in the Legislature were opposed – as was the farm industry.
They warned about the impact on small businesses and low-income families.
The gas tax will jump from 12 cents, to 30 cents a gallon.
There'll be a new annual vehicle fee of up to $175 for high-end cars.
Electric cars will now be charged a $100 annual fee.
SB-1's backers say an average of $760 a year is spent on vehicle wear and tear caused by neglected roadways.
"If we did not act now, the need for an increase would only grow with time,” Gloria said during Friday’s recording session for Sunday’s edition of NBC 7’s “Politically Speaking” program, which will air at 9 a.m.
“The fixes and the repairs that are necessary only grow more expensive. It's a good thing that we acted now. To wait any longer only would have cost taxpayers far more."
The gas tax hikes go into effect November 1st; higher vehicle fees, January 1st.
Another note to drivers?
There’ll be annual increases for inflation.
