Washington raises gas tax by six cents per gallon on July 1
Effective July 1, Washington's state gasoline tax will increase from 49.4 to 55.4 cents per gallon, the first hike in nine years, to address a projected transportation budget shortfall.
Washington will raise its gasoline tax by six cents per gallon on July 1, moving the rate from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents, the state's third-highest level after California and Pennsylvania. The increase is part of a six-year, $3.2 billion transportation funding package that was approved by the state legislature and signed by Governor Bob Ferguson.
Lawmakers said the hike is intended to close an estimated $1 billion shortfall in the two-year transportation budget, which relies heavily on fuel taxes to fund road maintenance and other projects. The diesel tax will also rise by three cents, reaching 58.4 cents per gallon.
The change follows a nine-year period without adjustments to the state's fuel taxes. Critics and some commentators have expressed concerns about the impact on drivers, while others note that higher fuel costs may encourage a shift toward electric vehicles, which are not subject to the gasoline tax.
