Record-breaking gas price increases prompted two San Diego County Supervisors in proposing solutions that may alleviate the strain on wallets while the average for regular self-serve gasoline reaches $5.483 per gallon.
A letter co-authored by Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond was released on Monday to Board of Supervisors members asking them to support the suspension of California’s 51 cents a gallon gas tax for one year.
“This is not a partisan issue,” said Desmond, who represents District 5. “This is hitting everybody left and right, no matter what side of the aisle you’re on.
The state gas excise tax pays transportation costs such as road maintenance and repairs. It has steadily increased since 2017 with the passage of Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law by former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Desmond and Anderson’s joint proposal calls to temporarily suspend the fee with Desmond citing the state’s sizable budget surplus.
“There is a $45 billion excess thereof of our money at the state,” Desmond said. “A one-year reprieve is about $6 billion.”
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), San Diego County has recorded the highest gas price increase in history, in a state with the most expensive fuel in the nation.
Prices in some Southern California gas stations are steadily approaching $7 a gallon. Oil industry analysts attribute the price spike to the possibility of a supply shortage because traders, shippers, insurance companies, and banks are avoiding Russian oil transactions for fear of running afoul of Western sanctions.
“I cannot stand by and let San Diegans suffer while Sacramento politicians build up their coffers. I admit this is a short-term problem, and longer solutions need to be looked into, like becoming less dependent on foreign nations such as Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, and more energy-dependent, but that is a federal issue,” Desmond said.
A letter written by Desmond asserts that "the governor and state legislature should backfill funds using the estimated $45 billion in state budget surplus to supplement the gas excise tax". According to the State Legislative Analyst Office, California is expected to raise $6.8 billion from gasoline purchases for vehicles using public roads.
“By using 15 percent of the projected State surplus can lower gas prices by 51 cents per gallon throughout California this year,” Desmond wrote.
The idea will be voted on at the board’s next meeting held at 9 a.m. March 15.
