Wash. State Lawmakers Propose 11.5-Cent Fuel Tax Increase

Washington state Senate leaders have proposed boosting the state’s taxes on diesel and gasoline by 11.5 cents to pay for $12.3 billion in transportation projects, The Associated Press reported.

The plan, offered by Transportation Committee co-chairman Sen. Curtis King (R), is part of negotiations with the House over a package to keep up with the state’s infrastructure needs. Washington’s fuel tax already is one of the highest in the nation at 37.5 cents per gallon.

The plan would not include a long-discussed proposal to toll Interstate 90 at one of two bridges over Lake Washington near Seattle. It seeks to redirect sales tax money from transportation projects to a transportation fund instead of the general fund and transfers money out of an environmental cleanup account, AP reported.

Key lawmakers met with Gov. Jay Inslee’s (D) office on Nov. 13, according to the AP report.