Originally Posted By: eljefino
http://taxfoundation.org/article/gasoline-taxes-and-tolls-pay-only-third-state-local-road-spending
Quote:
Nationwide in 2010, state and local governments raised $37 billion in motor fuel taxes and $12 billion in tolls and non-fuel taxes, but spent $155 billion on highways.[3] In other words, highway user taxes and fees made up just 32 percent of state and local expenses on roads. The rest was financed out of general revenues, including federal aid.
You know, now with gas taking a little dip, it wouldn't hurt to double the federal gas tax that hasn't moved from 18 cents since 1994.
Drivers, and the economy as a whole, want consistent pricing. When fuel prices dip too much something else overheats and overshoots, creating panic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_States
I dragged the table into Excel. Looks like most states only tack on a couple more cents onto D2, above what they tack onto RUG.
Some states actually "jack up" diesel less: CA, CO, DE, FL, MI, NE, NV, NY, OR, TN, VT; FL has the biggest diff at 4.9c less per gallon (53.8/RUG vs 54.9/D2).
Most states are pretty close.
States with more than 5c/gallon extra (above what they also put onto RUG): AZ (8c/g), CT (5.6), IL (5.4), IN (10.9), PA (6.9), VA (8.8).
CA leads is pretty bad, at 71.9/RUG and 74.9/D2, but CT is worse at 67.7/RUG and 79.3/D2, with the highest taxed D2 of the country.