You Might Have to Start Paying More for New Jersey Gas

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The days of cheap New Jersey gas could soon be gone.

The state assembly passed proposed legislation Tuesday that would raise the New Jersey gas tax by 23 cents per gallon to pay for transportation and infrastructure improvements.

If the state senate approves the bill Thursday, the gas tax could increase by Friday, according to the Wall Street Journal. New Jersey’s gas tax could go from one of the lowest in the country to one of the highest.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie has praised the bill.

“It is much-needed while at the same time we are going to have constitutionally dedicated revenue to improve roads, bridges and the mass transit systems in the state,” Christie said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the Senate between now and Thursday to hopefully bring this issue to a successful conclusion.”

New Jersey’s gas tax hasn’t risen since 1990, according to the New York Times. The state’s transportation fund could run out of money by July, 6ABC reports.

The bill comes at the same tame as a proposed cut in the state’s sales tax from 7 percent to 6 percent.

Some say the math doesn’t add up. New Jersey Policy Perspective president Gordon MacInnes told NewsWorks that despite the fact that most people won’t notice the sales tax reduction, it will result in a $1.6 billion drop in state revenues.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg told NewsWorks that the state “can’t possibly fund the pension payments that the Assembly passed and do the one-penny cut on the sales tax and fund the TFF.”

Either way, Pennsylvania residents near the border might have to get used to staying in the state to fill up their gas tanks, despite the fact that the state’s gas prices are currently among the highest in the country.

Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter.