A bill that would raise Kentucky’s gas tax by 10 cents was filed in the Kentucky General Assembly this week and a local legislator says the funds it generates would go towards infrastructure.
Representative Walker Thomas is the vice-chair of Transportation Committee and says the proposal—known as House Bill 157—has some support in the general assembly. He says not only would it increase the tax, if it were to pass, it would also put some type of fees on hybrid and electric cars.
Thomas says the money would be used to maintain and update Kentucky’s infrastructure—roads, bridges and more—and he says no one likes to raises taxes, but something will eventually have to be done to raise those funds.
The gas tax in Kentucky is currently 44 cents per gallon. The bill would also increase the annual registration fees for passenger vehicles and motorcycles to $22 and $15. It also creates a new highway preservation fee for owners of all noncommercial motor vehicles that ranges from $5 to $20, based on the EPA fuel efficiency rating of that vehicle.
The bill was filed Wednesday in the House and now goes to the Transportation Committee for review.