New Gas Tax Inked

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead Friday signed a bill into law that will hike the state’s fuel tax by 10¢ a gallon. Mead had sought the tax as a new source for funding road repairs and improvements throughout the state, sayingthe state can no longer afford to keep up with the state’s highway needs through general fund alone.  Those state roads, he says are vital to the state’s economic viability.  It is estimated that the tax will raise about $70-million a year with the transportation department getting about two thirds and local governments getting one third for highway needs.  The increase is set to take effect on July first.