Wyoming Senate Votes to Add a Dime to State’s 14-Cent Diesel Tax

The Wyoming Senate on Thursday approved and sent to the governor a bill that would add a dime to the state’s 14-cent-per-gallon diesel and gasoline tax.

Gov. Matt Mead (R) has said he favors increasing the fuel tax to raise badly needed money for the state’s roads and bridges.

The measure drew strong support from the state’s trucking industry, which opposed other measures designed to raise revenue via mileage taxes or tolls on Interstate 80.

The Senate bill passed 18-12, after being approved in January in the House.

If Mead signs the bill to increase the tax to 24 cents, it will  generate about $70 million annually in additional revenue, although the Wyoming Department of Transportation said it needs $134 million more each year to maintain the road network.

Under the bill, about two-thirds of the new $70 million would go to WDOT and the rest to local governments for roads.