Washington state passes downsized $11.8B transportation budget lowering gas tax hike

Washington drivers will pay the third-highest gas tax in the nation after the passage of an $11.8 billion transportation plan by state lawmakers.

The two-year budget stems from an 11th-hour deal made between House and Senate Democrats over the weekend. It succeeds two plans from Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, and Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma. The first, Forward Washington, increased the state’s 49.8-cent gas tax up to 59.3 cents by July – the second-highest gas tax in the country behind California. The second, Miles Ahead, raised it to 67.8 cents, placing it as the number one in the nation.