I read that the California tax on gasoline and diesel fuel is going to be raised by $0.12 per gallon in the motor vehicle fuel (gasoline) tax imposed by bill SB 1. There will be 50 percent of a $0.20 per gallon increase in the diesel excise tax, with an inflation adjustment, and a portion of a new transportation improvement fee imposed under the Vehicle License Fee Law with a varying fee between $25 and $175 based on vehicle value, with an inflation adjustment.
Is there a study available to describe the impact of this action on the average citizen? I would like to locate a copy. Surely there was some debate on the issue where opposing viewpoints were raised.
Offhand, I see a significant financial impact upon my life. Let me see if I can summarize:
1. The cost of commuting to work will rise proportionately.
2. The cost of operating city vehicles will go up, thereby prompting an increase in city taxes and fees to recover the increased cost.
3. The cost of operating county vehicles will go up, thereby prompting an increase in county fees and property taxes to recover the increased cost.
4. The utility company, with its hundreds of vehicles, that provides my electrical service will have increased fuel costs that I am certain will be reflected in a higher electric bill. The same can be expected for the utilities that provide natural gas service, water service, and trash pickup.
5. Transportation costs for children being bused to school will result in increased costs to the school districts, which will ask the state of California for education money to cover the additional costs.
6. The cost of riding buses, trains, taxis, and other forms of transportation will increase dramatically.
7. The California State University system has vehicles that will now cost more to utilize. The same can be said for the University of California system.
8. Education costs, alone, will show a huge increase because not only will transportation costs for those systems increase, but the professors, teachers, employees, and administrators who have the higher commuting costs will, of course, want higher pay increases, which will result in higher tuition costs or increased demands upon the state education budget.
9. Delivery services and trucking services will have increased fuel costs, which will be passed on to the consumer through the merchants who utilize these services.
So, I can see a cost increase for all the basic needs of every Californian, to include food and clothing. Everything in California is delivered by truck, so every item will be impacted. This is just my initial observation, without much research.
This article appears in Apr 27 – May 4, 2017.
