By Jay Obernolte in The Sun

February 19, 2016

Californians pay some of the highest gas prices in the country. In fact, it is not uncommon for California residents to pay 70 cents more per gallon than the national average. With oil prices continuing to drop, it is extremely frustrating not to see a significant corresponding change in gas prices in our state. This is largely attributable to a number of California policies designed to discourage gas purchases and reduce petroleum consumption.

California drivers also pay among the highest gas tax in the country. Our consumer tax on gasoline currently ranks as the fifth highest, but once the recent tax on fuels under the cap-and-trade program aimed at reducing carbon emissions is included (currently around 10 cents per gallon), Californians pay the highest tax in the nation on gasoline.

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