AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The state doesn't have a lot of money to fix or build roads. There's talk in the legislature now to solve that, but the solution would cost you more at the pump.
Some legislators who are concerned about how we'll pay for new highways in Texas, and are suggesting increasing the state tax on gasoline.
The Texas tax now is 20-cents a gallon. The federal tax is 18-cents. That's 38-eight cents just in taxes per gallon.
The state fuel tax has been the same since 1991.
ProNews Seven sat down today with Senator Kel Seliger who says so far there is no proposed legislation, and the issue needs to be discuessed.
Seliger says there are two main discussions now. One option would increase the gas tax every year, as adjusted for inflation.
Seliger continued, saying in Rural and West Texas, this would effect a lot of folks who drive through the panhandle everyday.
Another option, would allow voters to vote on additional gas tax for highways in their district. Seliger said while the roads do need to be maintained, all options still need to be studied.
"This goes back to how much more than the eight billion dollar a year, do they get now, does TxDOT need, for highways. they tell us there are no limits to the amount of money they need, but that's not right," said Senator Kel Seliger, (R) Amarillo.
A spokesman for TxDOT said he could not comment, simply because there is no bill yet.
