![]() I voted No on #SB339, a bad bill pursuing a statewide per mile gas tax.Ĭalifornians already pay the highest gas prices in the US, why make life more unbearable? Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita said the state already has the highest fuel prices in the nation.Ĭommuting is a necessity in my district & a per mile tax would be a huge blow to middle class families. “The road charge pilot program offers an alternative option for transportation and road funding,” Wiener said.Ĭritics of the program say replacing the current fuel tax with a per-mile tax would negatively affect people who must commute. The legislation follows a recent executive order from the Democratic governor to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. Wiener says the pilot program will allow state agencies to evaluate and refine the approach for future consideration of broader application. “Road usage charges can replace gas taxes and ensure we can continue to fund our roads,” Wiener said in a news release. Wiener said with the state’s transition to more fuel efficient vehicles – and ultimately away from carbon-fueled vehicles entirely – fuel tax revenue will decline and eventually end. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, SB339 would include an actual fee collection program that would reimburse participants the amount they would pay in fuel taxes over that time. The Senate has voted to sign off on Assembly changes to a bill to continue the program through 2026. Instead of paying at the pump when purchasing fuel, a road charge system determines a driver’s vehicle miles traveled with an in-vehicle device, regular reporting of the odometer, or through various other methods. Since 2015, the program allows the state to study a road user charge based on vehicle miles traveled as an alternative to fuel taxes. Kings County’s resolution states, “Rural communities, including Kings County, will be disproportionately affected by the implementation of the VMT standards created pursuant to SB 743, because many residents of these communities must drive longer distances to find employment in urban centers.The California Legislature has approved a bill to extend the state’s road charge pilot program. “It goes directly against affordable housing and it will increase the cost of housing statewide.” “We’re a farming community and, and, you know, as is often the case, our community doesn’t fit the demographics that the state is intending to,” said supervisor Craig Pederson. Related Story: Bipartisan Drumbeat Grows for Newsom to Delay Law Hurting ‘Millennials. The Kings County Board of Supervisors spent just a few minutes discussing the impacts of VMT before voting on their resolution. Related Story: Clovis City Manager Says July 1 Law ‘Real Hindrance’ to. And, while the developer bears the costs upfront, it is passed on to homebuyers and renters. That’s because developers will have to mitigate the miles traveled, such as by funding vanpools or purchasing mass transit passes.Īn official with the Building Industry Association of Fresno-Madera Counties has estimated that the VMT fees for a 20-unit project in Clovis would be $460,000 over 30 years - or $23,000 a unit. If you drive a lot, your number will escalate the price of a new house - or even rent for a newly built apartment. The goal, according to the law’s supporters, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some cities - Pasadena, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland, for example - already are using VMT. Then the VMT fee is calculated for the development. For instance, if a person drives to multiple places a day - work, store, soccer practice, etc. Instead, VMT is applied to new developments. On July 1, projects will no longer be assessed a fee by how much traffic congestion is created. Related Story: Fresno Supervisors Approve Resolution to Delay Vehicle Miles Traveled Law SB 743 Changes The boards in Fresno’s neighboring counties agreed to back a two-year delay on implementing a controversial law - SB 743 - scheduled to take effect next month. ![]() Critics of the law say that it discriminates against minorities and lower-income families, and will put homeownership out of reach for many Californians. ![]()
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