Some Utah lawmakers are talking about raising the state’s fuel tax next year.

According to published reports, legislators say a 5- to 10-cent increase may be considered during the 2003 legislative session in order to pay for transportation projects.
The current tax is 24.5 cents per gallon for both gasoline and diesel (not including the federal excise tax.)
Rep. Don Bush, co-chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Committee, said it was important to make sure the funds go to transportation, not the general fund. This year, legislators transferred $32 million in savings from the Interstate 15 reconstruction project to the general fund.