A trip to the gas station could become a little more expensive in Mississippi after the House of Representatives proposed a bill for a statewide gas tax hike.
Currently, the state’s gas tax is a flat rate of 18.4 cents a gallon. The new proposal would add another 9 cents to that.
As it stands, the bill proposing the increase passed in the House, but has not made its way to the state Senate.
No date has been suggested as to when the Senate might address the bill, but that hasn’t stopped people from having opinions on it.
A spokesperson for the American Automobile Association said the organization supported the gas tax because it allows for funds to be directly given and used for the maintenance and construction of roadways in the state.
“It’s promised on improving our bridges, safety structures within the highways, maintenance of existing highways, potholes, those types of things, guard rails, and new construction,” said Don Redman, AAA Public Affairs specialist.
Redman said he understands how the increase could affect millions of Mississippians, but it’s going to benefit them in another way.
He says Mississippi is ranked number one nationally for traffic fatalities.
“It is going to increase your budget for gasoline, but it’s going to make transportation or travel throughout the state much better,” Redman said.
