California’s Latest Gas Tax Hike – Just in Time for July 4th Holiday

AAA reports Monday June 23rd that the U.S. average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.220.

June 4th, AAA reported that the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.144; mid-grade was $3.629; premium was $3.984 and diesel was $3.516.

Be still my beating heart.

California’s average price for a gallon of regular gas is $4.663.

• Mid-grade gas is $4.875 per gallon;
• Premium gas is $5.067 per gallon; and
• Diesel is $5.118 per gallon.

California’s highest price for a gallon of regular gas is $5.868 in Mono County.

This is becoming a pretty sad but regular column at the Globe.

We are one week away from California’s July 1 gas tax hike, followed by the Independence Day holiday, one of the busiest road travel weekends of the year.

As the Globe reported last week:

California Democrats killed bills earlier this month that would have suspended the Low Carbon Fuel Standard gas tax increase of nearly 65 cents a gallon from going into effect July 1st.

Facing a 65 cent gas tax increase July 1st, everyone in California will be paying more than $5.00 for a gallon of regular gas. And that’s just on the way to an eventual $8.63 per gallon.

CalTax broke down the California Air Resources Board Low Carbon Fuel Standard tax and says the gas tax increase will be to 61.2 cents per gallon.

California’s excise tax on gasoline will increase to 61.2 cents per gallon July 1, an increase of 1.6 cents per gallon over the current rate of 59.6 cents per gallon, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration announced June 4.

While there are minor disagreements on how much the gas tax will increase, we all agree that it will increase. Again. And again.

If you are taking the kids to an Orange County Beach July 4th, you will pay anywhere from $4.573 for a gallon of regular gas to $4.943 for a gallon of diesel – $91 to $100 for a fill-up.

If you are going camping in the San Bernardino Mountains, expect to pay $4.504 to $4.985 per gallon of gas or diesel.

A long weekend in Napa is going to cost a lot more than the $75 – $150 wine tasting fees; a gallon of Regular gas costs $4.992 in Napa, and diesel will cost $5.418 per gallon – well over $100 for a fill-up.

Even on the beautiful Central Coast where oil and gas development is rich, a gallon of Regular gas will cost $4.592 per gallon, and Diesel will cost $4.980.

Your trip to the Trinity Alps may necessitate a stop in Redding for a fill-up. A gallon of Regular gas in Redding will cost $4.495, and Diesel nearly $5.00 at $4.988 per gallon.

The California Air Resources Board voted to approve new gas regulations which will result in as much as a .65 cent per gallon gas tax on California’s gas prices. the Globe reported in November.

The California Governor, Legislature and State Air Resources Board have been working hand in glove to restrict the availability of oil and gas and increase the cost of gas at the pump so severely, middle class and working class drivers will be making choices between groceries and fuel for the car.

The Globe reported that California gas prices could escalate 75% to $8.43 per gallon in 2026 due to the pending shutdowns of two major in-state refineries, according to USC Professor Michael Mische.

For all of the Globe’s coverage of California’s ever rising gas prices, here is the link to the list.