SALISBURY, Md. — Maryland drivers will pay a little more at the pump starting Wednesday.
This year’s change is the first increase to the gas tax after two years of declines.
The Comptroller's Office is raising the motor fuel tax rate by 1.3 percent, bringing it from 46 cents to 46.6 cents per gallon. The diesel tax will also increase by 1.5 percent, going from 46.75 cents to 47.45 cents per gallon.
The Comptroller's Office is required by law to adjust the motor fuel tax each year.
The state tax comes on top of the federal gas tax, which stands at 18.4 cents per gallon.
According to AAA, the current average price for gas in Maryland is just under $3.74 per gallon — up from last year's average of around $3.27.
For many residents, the increase is just one more expense on top of an already tight budget.
"Pennies add up. I went from $40 for gas to about $60 now…I mean, gas is going up. Food's already high. Just for your gas to be high as well, as food already is — it's crazy with the prices," said Nasir Higgins.
Others say they have learned to plan around rising costs — but that does not make the news any more welcome.
"Oh, budgeting for gas is hard…We go for the necessities in life, which is food, gas, transportation, getting back and forth — the vehicle can break down any time. So you have to prepare for that," said George Wilkerson.
For younger drivers, the cost of gas is already taking up a significant chunk of their paycheck.
"It's a little hectic. You know, especially if I'm working in OC. I work at Seacrets. So I'm at least getting gas every other day, so just try to keep up with it. It gets tiring a lot, but this is what we got to do right now," Isaiah Holbrook said.
By comparison, Delaware's gas tax currently stands at 23 cents per gallon for gasoline and 22 cents for diesel. In Virginia, drivers pay 32.6 cents per gallon for gas and 33.6 cents for diesel. Neither state currently has a gas tax holiday in effect.
