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Senate Committee Lowers Gas Tax Increase

Jackie Yamanaka

Motorists will pay a little bit more at the pump under a bill that appears headed for the finish line. The additional money raised is earmarked to fix the state’s crumbling roads and bridges.

House Bill 473 sought to raise the tax on a gallon of gasoline by 8 cents a gallon, but an amendment lowered that to 4 ½ cents. 

That amendment by Senator Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, would raise the fuel tax on gasoline gradually over time. Diesel, meanwhile, would go up an additional 1 ½ cents a gallon and also rise over time.

“As much as Montanans depend on their Interstate system and their secondary system and our counties we all depend on, or most of us, depend on many miles of gravel roads. I don’t think we want to hay wire ‘em,” Ankney says. “I think we want to get ahead of the problem and fix ‘em right.”

Opponents argue the problem with government is its thirst for more money. Senator David Howard, R-Park City, says government doesn’t need more fuel taxes.

“I know that in the last 5 sessions that I’ve been up here that the Department of Transportation has not managed the funds well, if I wanted to be polite,” says Howard.

He says the most important part of this bill is that the department will have to undergo a performance audit and document on a website how it spends money. Howard was unsuccessful in trying to amend the bill to sunset after 2 years.

Senator Jon Sesso, D-Butte, calls this bill a true compromise that has received bipartisan support and has emerged as a goldilocks solution.

“I would like to acknowledge the sponsor for his patience in dealing with everybody who thinks it’s too high, too low, not the right number, not the right time, et cetera,” says Sesso.  The bill’s sponsor Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, was in the hearing room. “I have observed a process that really demonstrates how a legislature is supposed to work in terms of finding the right solution on balance with the problem at hand and looking out for our future.”

The bill passed the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on an 11-to-7 vote. House Bill 473 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.