Some bad ideas never really go away. They just wait for people to stop paying attention.
The mileage tax is one of them.
A few years ago, SANDAG proposed a tax on every mile you drive as part of San Diego’s regional transportation plan. I opposed it, and so did thousands of you. Residents showed up, called in, and made it clear they weren’t willing to pay a new tax just to drive to work, take their kids to school, or visit family. That pushback worked, and the mileage tax was permanently removed from the regional plan.
Now the idea is resurfacing at the state level.
California is wrapping up a study on charging drivers by the mile, and state leaders are openly discussing it as a way to replace or add to the gas tax. Estimates range from 6 to 9 cents per mile. For many families, that could mean hundreds of dollars more each year, on top of the highest gas prices in the country.
And to charge you by the mile, the government has to track how many miles you drive.
The argument for it is always the same. More people are driving electric vehicles, gas tax revenue is going down, so we need a new way to pay for roads.
But California doesn’t have a money problem. The state’s general fund has grown by roughly $100 billion over the past several years. If that kind of growth hasn’t fixed our roads, a new tax won’t either. The money is there. It’s a question of priorities.
At the County, we balance our budget every year and still deliver the services residents count on. Sacramento should be held to that same standard before it asks drivers to pay more.
I’ll continue to oppose any mileage tax, and I’ll keep you updated as the state moves forward.