The State Senate has passed a $.10-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax.
It would raise the tax from $.14-a-gallon to $.24. It’s expected to generate about $47 million for highways and several million dollars for local government.
Senate Transportation Chairman Michael Von Flatern says the money is desperately needed by the Wyoming Department of Transportation, but even with the increase, WYDOT is looking at a shortfall.
“Now, we are lacking about $60-some-million a year from the estimates from the Department of Transportation,” Von Flatern says. “Now, if that’s true we will no doubt be revisiting this in many years.”
Opponents of the measure believe it will increase prices at the pump, but Von Flatern says there is no evidence to back that up.
The bill heads to the governor for his consideration.