Connecticut is not alone in boosting its gas tax.
Seven other states have also increased their levy on fuel this month, according to a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
The largest boost was in Wyoming, which raised its gas tax by 10 cents a gallon, followed by Connecticut, California, Maryland, Kentucky, Nebraska, Georgia and North Carolina.
Meanwhile gas taxes in Virginia and Vermont went down.
Connecticut’s gas tax increased 4 cents on July 1.
Meanwhile, unlike state gas taxes, which have been fluctuating, the federal gas tax has remained unchanged at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993, despite a 55 percent increase in the cost of road building over the last 20 years.
Raising the federal tax is politically unpopular since taxpayers may not see how their federal dollars are put to work. Meanwhile, state taxes are more prone to be raised because they’re more tangible.
Wyoming and Maryland’s legislatures voted to increase their gas tax, while the other states’ gas taxes are set to automatically go up every six to 12 months to keep pace with inflation.
Currently 16 states automatically peg their gas tax to inflation.
