Gasoline Tax Increase Heats Up in State Legislature

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(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota lawmakers continue to debate the first increase to the gas tax in 20 years, with the state House advanced a 5-cent tax increase while the Senate unanimously defeated a separate bill with a 3-cent increase.

Supporters in the House said the increase is needed to adequately maintain roads and bridges. A 5-cent increase to the motor fuels tax, which includes gasoline and diesel, would put North Dakota at 28 cents, still competitive with neighboring states.

Members of the Senate, meanwhile, objected to raising the gas tax while at the same time trying to cut property taxes, which has been a primary goal of the legislative session.

“It doesn’t make sense to the Senate to offer and promise property tax relief, and then we tax you on the backside of something else that everybody uses,” said Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg.