Montana Voters Support Raising Fuel Taxes

A majority of 800 Montana voters surveyed last month favored raising taxes on diesel and gasoline to help pay for the state’s roads and bridges. In the poll commissioned by the Montana Chamber of Commerce, 52% of the voters supported the increase with 41% opposed.

When the voters were informed that the taxes, 27.75 cents per gallon for gas and 28.5 cents for diesel, haven’t been raised since 1993 and while highway construction costs have increased by 68%, the margin widened to 2-1, 56% to 28%.

The poll also asked those who supported a fuel tax increase how much more they would be willing to pay. Forty seven percent said they would pay up to an additional 5 cents per gallon, with lower percentages willing to pay an extra dime and even more.