Ige plan to boost gas tax, other fees advances

Gov. David Ige’s proposal to increase the state’s vehicle weight tax, gasoline tax and registration fees won tentative approval from a Senate committee Monday after a key lawmaker announced she will amend the bill to increase the state gas tax by more than 62 percent.

Senate Bill 1012 is part of a package of measures that would raise an additional $100 million a year for the state Highway Fund, money the Ige administration says it needs to proceed with an array of projects to increase highway capacity, reduce traffic congestion and improve road maintenance across the state.

As part of that package, the Ige administration proposed to increase the state gasoline tax to 22 cents from 16 cents per gallon statewide. However, Senate Transportation and Energy Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Inouye announced Monday she is upping the ante on that gas tax proposal.

Inouye told listeners at the close of a public hearing she is amending the Ige bill to increase the gas tax to 26 cents from the current 16 cents a gallon.

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