Ponca City Legislator Asks for Support of Fuel Tax Hike

If the Republican leadership in the Oklahoma legislature gets its way, motorists in Oklahoma will be paying higher motor fuel taxes.

Rep. Steve Vaughan of Ponca City chairs the House Transportation Committee and wants the support of voters in raising the tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by 6 cents a gallon.

“At 23 cents per gallon for gasoline and 20 cents per gallon for diesel, Oklahomans would still be paying less than the regional average for both, and the state would have more than $100 million annually in recurring revenue that could be used to improve our transportation infrastructure,” said Vaughan in a news release.

He pointed out that according to the Tax Commission, 40 percent of the gasoline sold in the state is purchased by non-residents passing through.

“Only one other state taxes fuel at a lower rate than Oklahoma. In fact, since 1987, Oklahoma has taxed motor fuel at just 17 cents per gallon gasoline and 14 cents per gallon on diesel, by far the lowest in the region,” explained Rep. Vaughn. “Those tax revenues are dedicated for road and bridge funding, but have proven insufficient to adequately fund our transportation needs.”

Vaughn said the lack of revenue has forced the State Transportation Department to alter its 8-year Construction Work Plan making it “the sacrificial lamb for other state agencies.”

“This plan is instrumental in improving state roads and bridges, such as reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges in Oklahoma from nearly 1,200 in 2004 to only 250 today,”  said Vaughn.