California gas tax rises by 2.2 cents per gallon ahead of July 4 weekend
Effective Wednesday, California's gasoline tax will increase to about 63 cents per gallon, the result of an annual inflation adjustment under the state's Road Repair and Accountability Act.
California's gasoline tax will rise by 2.2 cents per gallon on Wednesday, bringing the total tax to roughly 63 cents per gallon, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration said. The increase follows the state's Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, which requires an annual inflation-based adjustment.
The tax hike comes as the state prepares for increased travel over the July 4 holiday weekend. While California's gas tax is already the highest in the United States, the state now ranks second in overall gasoline prices, behind Hawaii.
President Donald Trump posted on his social-media platform urging gasoline retailers to lower prices, claiming the tax was illegal and excessive. Governor Gavin Newsom's office responded by sharing the post with a caption referencing a previous Trump comment about oil prices.
Senator Adam Schiff, speaking to a national news outlet, attributed current high gasoline costs partly to the conflict between the United States and Iran, noting that the war has contributed to price increases nationwide. A network anchor added that California's high taxes and other factors also make gasoline more expensive there than in many other states.