California’s New ‘Holiday’

Issues and Insights ^ | 2 Jul, 2025 | I & I Editorial Board

[MtnClimber]

For most, July 1 is nothing more than just another rectangle on the calendar before a major holiday. In California, it has become a day of dread – the day gasoline prices jump because of another fuel tax hike in the state that already punishes its drivers with the highest prices in the nation.

Lawmakers passed, and then Gov. Jerry Brown signed, Senate Bill 1 in 2017. Known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act, it was Sacramento’s promise that the state’s cracked, potholed, car-busting and outdated streets, highways and bridges would be fixed. All that had to be done was tax California motorists enough to generate $52 billion or so over the next decade.

The initial tax hike hit right away, with a 12-cents-per-gallon kick in the teeth on Nov. 1, 2017. The first of the annual July 1 increases arrived in 2019. Tuesday’s jump moved the state excise tax on gasoline to 61.2 cents per gallon, up from 59.6 cents a gallon. The diesel tax rose from 45.4 to 46.6 cents per gallon.

The total state excise tax on gasoline, the highest in the nation, is now more than 71 cents a gallon, far higher than the 27.8 cents a gallon that it was in 2016, just before SB1 became law and began inflicting its pain. While the rest of the country enjoys the lowest summer gasoline prices since 2021, California refuses to take the sting out of driving.

For all the dollars that California motorists have been separated from, they should be cruising easy on smooth streets made of gold. They are not. Road conditions are actually deteriorating – the state is ranked 49th in the nation, falling two spots from its previous position. Only about 72% are of the streets and highways are considered acceptable, well below the national average of 81%.

Tuesday also marked the latest update of the state’s low-carbon fuel standard. The purpose of the LCFS is to direct public and private sector funding toward “increasing cleaner fuel and transportation options for Californians,” says the California Air Resources Board. It is also designed to accelerate “the deployment of zero-emission infrastructure,” and push the state toward achieving “legally mandated air quality and climate targets.”

Prices won’t rise immediately, but the state says they could spike by 47 cents a gallon due to the LCFS revision. Independent estimates project far more damage, with prices rising from 65 cents a gallon to as much as 85 cents a gallon.

Lawmakers must think that because it’s the Golden State, pricing gasoline and diesel as if they were gold is not a problem. They could have reprioritized spending and made the road repairs without raising taxes every July 1. But they don’t care that millions will be hurt by the higher cost just as long as they can spend other people’s money without any restraints.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: leftism

[MtnClimber]

Were there joyful celebrations in Californis?

[rlmorel]

I wonder how much of that gas tax money, supposed to be destined only to fix roads and repair bridges, went to climate change BS and coddling of illegals?

California roads are ranked 49th in the nation? Wow.

[Tell It Right]

I wonder how much of that gas tax money, supposed to be destined only to fix roads and repair bridges, went to climate change BS and coddling of illegals?

You and I think a lot alike. My first thought was that a lot of the gas tax went to EV charging stations and a state EV credit under the guise of "road improvement".

[sasquatch]

Not new. In the 70’s the local market had a pickle jar for donations. When enough money accumulated a crew would head for the quarry and get some asphalt to fill the larger pot holes. The county (Santa Clauz) shut it down either for safety as claimed or embarrassment. After that it was paint around the (pot) holes to avoid bent rims. Another of Jerry Brown’s legacies is his electric train, started before any work and little planning was done. Obama Bucks poured in since it was...Shovel Ready.

[j.havenfarm]

A ballot measure qualified to repeal the tax. The left wing propaganda machine kicked into high gear, drowning the airwaves with ads featuring teachers, firefighters, and cops, claiming that passage of the measure would prevent delivery of their essential services. It worked and the gullible voters did not repeal the tax. So where we are is with the full consent of the voters

[Ex-Con777]

> California roads are ranked 49th in the nation? Wow.<

Just think. Another billion or two and it could be 50th.
Woohoo!

EC

[Vaduz]

Several refineries in California are either closing or have announced plans to close, leading to concerns about potential fuel shortages and ****price increases****. These closures are primarily attributed to California’s environmental regulations and a desire to move towards a more sustainable energy future.

Go EV or pay you son of a bitch the states motto.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Hey Cali! Look! Is that smoke?

[Organic Panic]

How many pot holes could have been fixed with the money that has gone in to their magical train?

If you want to punish your kidneys for some reason, drive the entire length of 99 from Bakersfield to its end in Red Bluff.

[Bon of Babble]

A lot of the gas tax apparently goes into the general fund - to pay for illegals, their health care, housing, educational needs - and free tuition for them.

I read a rumor yesterday about gas theft gangs - they drill into the sides of cars to steal gas. Have seen a couple of cases on my local NextDoor app - one woman had it done to her car while she was at her son's Little League game. It's only going to get worse...

We used to make jokes about the price of gas in Hawaii - now "us" in California - who are sitting on large deposits of gas and oil - are paying the highest price in the nation:

[MtnClimber]

A lot of the gas tax apparently goes into the general fund

Color me NOT shocked.