The Newport City Council will ask voters through the ballot to approve an increase in gas taxes in the city.
Newport City Council again proposes an ordinance to increase gas taxes
Newport City Council presently collects a gas tax of 3 cents per gallon from June through October, and 1 cent per gallon during the balance of the year. The increase proposal would make the gas taxes 5 cents per gallon year-round.
Newport City previously asked resident voters to approve a 5-cent increase in the gas taxes. That measure was on the ballot in the November 2021 special election and was shot down by voters. But now they again propose a gas taxes increase.
Newport City Council expressed an interest in asking again for a gas taxes hike last November. On February 5, 2024, members further discussed the proposed increase of gas taxes and considered an ordinance and resolution for placing the gas taxes proposal on May’s primary ballot.
This gas tax is per gallon and does not get adjusted for inflation, said the revenue the city
According to City Manager Spencer Nebel “If we want to do the May election, we’ll have to have these documents ready to be approved by the council at the Feb. 20 city council meeting. This would place this item on the ballot to provide a source of funding for some of the street improvements that we need to focus on.”
The City Manager pointed out the current gas taxes are not affected by inflation. The fixed amount is added to each gallon purchased, as would be the proposed increase to 5 cents.
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