[jyl]

Similar discussion in Oregon.

Federal gasoline tax ($0.184/gal) hasn't risen much in decades, so Federal money for the interstate highways is coming up short. State gasoline taxes ($0.34/gal in Oregon) and local gasoline taxes ($0.10/gal in Portland, up for renewal in 2020) are starting to rise instead.

Taxation of electric cars is getting attention. Oregon will start a $110/year registration fee for electric and plug-in hybrids in Jan 2020. There is also a state rebate of up to $2,500 for new EVs and plug-in hybrids, and another $2,500 for a new or used EV. "EV" means a battery-only car. So EVs and plug-in hybrids are still getting incentives. There is a 0.5% motor vehicle sales tax in Oregon now as well, that applies to all cars, ICE or EV or hybrid.

What we really need to do, in Oregon, is to reduce the use of studded snow tires. They tear up the roads pretty bad, because during the winter most Oregon roads are bare of snow most of the time, so the soccer mom who puts studded snow tires on her SUV because she lives in the hills is wearing trenches in all the pavement at lower elevation. Those trenches then collect standing water that tends to freeze, making the roads not only crummy but dangerous. You see this on the highway but also in town, especially at intersections where soccer mom blasts off at green. I use studless snows, they work great for anything that a normal driver needs, though I see why emergency vehicles might still want studs. I'd like to see a hefty tax on studded snows except for bona fide first responder vehicles.