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Taxes paid by Californians when we buy gasoline:

http://www.lao.ca.gov/2000/051100_cal_travels/051100_cal_travels_finance.html

• State and federal transportation revenues are collected primarily through the state and federal excise (per gallon) taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel.

• Californians pay the following taxes at the pump:

• 18 cents in state tax for each gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel (generally referred to as the "gas" tax).

• 18.4 cents in federal tax for each gallon of gasoline.

• 24.4 cents in federal tax for each gallon of diesel fuel.

• 7.25 percent uniform state and local sales tax, plus optional local sales taxes for transportation or other purposes varying by county. The majority of the uniform state and local sales tax proceeds are not used for transportation purposes.

Counties and cities can add taxes to the base tax rate.

Gasoline buyers in San Francisco pay about 8.5% sales tax on gasoline.

As noted above the California Sales is based on the $ cost. The dirty secret is the sales tax is calculated after all the state and federal taxes are added to the per gallon cost.