State Senate Votes to Increase Gas Tax to Maintain State Roads

Here's something that will affect your commute - an increase in the gasoline tax.

WashingtonPost.com is reporting this afternoon that the Virginia state Senate has voted to approve a 5-cent increase in the gas tax over the next five years to raise additional money to maintain the state's highways.

"The Senate bill, approved 25 to 15, would increase the state's 17.5-cent-a-gallon gas tax by a penny every year until 2014.

Virginia's gas tax hasn't been raised since 1986. Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said the tax increase is needed because there is a $390 million shortfall in the part of the budget used to fill potholes, plow snow and otherwise maintain roads.

According to the Post, "a 1-cent increase in the gas tax raises an additional $52 million a year. But the measure faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates. Two weeks ago, a House committee rejected a separate proposal to raise the gas tax by 5 cents."