Road repair funds may have residents paying more at the pumps

For Vance Forster biking around is sometimes the best way to go. “That’s literally what I’ll do, ride my bike more if the gas goes up,” he says.

His truck, can cost up to $130 to fill up. and that price could soon climb even higher.

“I do believe when the gas goes up dramatically people don’t travel as much, people stay up, it means a lot $10-20 bucks a week,” he says.

That hike in prices is part of Governor Jerry Brown’s $52-billion proposal over ten years to help fix the roads throughout the state.

Under his plan there would be a spike in gas taxes, car registration fees and a $100-dollar charge on electric cars starting in 2020.

“I’m not a rich guy, I’m not going to fill up when it’s $130 and go play with the kids, I’m going to wait and do something else,” says Forster.

The winter storms have left roadways on the Central Coast in need of repair.

Brown says his 10 year plan would increase the prices at the pump by 12 cents a gallon.

It’s something he says would cost about $10 a month for drivers.

“It affects everyone’s livelihood, everyone in California,” says Joshua Skeleton.

While drivers in Santa Maria don’t all agree with the tax hike, city officials say the proposal would go a long way. It could bring in an additional $2.3 million for the city.

“It’s long overdue, transportation funding is in a shortfall for all cities and funding across the state,” says Mark van de Kamp, Public Information Officer for Santa Maria.

However, some think if this passes, the money won’t be going to all the right places.

“I think it goes to make our politicians richer and still keeps all the people hurting,” says Skeleton.