California motorists could eventually be charged for every mile they drive under a proposal gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra says he is open to considering as a way to finance the state’s deteriorating roads.
Asked by KCRA’s Ashley Zavala whether he would back a mileage-based road fee as governor, Becerra said no option should be ruled out.
“Everything should be on the table,” Becerra said. “Our roads aren’t maintained just by some magic wand. We have to pay for it. Do I want to tax people more than necessary? No. Should we pay a gas tax? Yes. Should people who drive electric vehicles, who don’t need gas, pay for those roads to be repaired as well? Absolutely.”
Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. Health and Human Services secretary under President Biden, is seeking to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. His comments came as California officials near completion of a study examining whether a vehicle-miles-traveled charge could replace the state’s conventional gas tax.
A mileage fee could add to the financial pressure facing Californians, who already contend with one of the country’s highest costs of living. Opponents also say the system would fall especially heavily on people who drive long distances to work.
Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio has criticized the idea, warning that Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento could approve a statewide mileage tax without sending it to voters for a direct decision.
According to DeMaio’s description of the proposal, drivers could be charged between 6 cents and 9 cents per mile in addition to current gasoline and vehicle-related taxes.
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For someone driving 15,000 miles annually, the lower rate would amount to an extra $900 a year. DeMaio has likened that cost to raising California’s gas tax by 87 cents per gallon.
“Because of the extreme policies of Democrats in Sacramento, California has the highest cost of living in the nation – and now the Democrats want to make it worse by imposing a crazy new Mileage Tax on all drivers,” he said.
DeMaio also contends that California has not adequately maintained its highways and local roads despite collecting taxes specifically intended to support transportation infrastructure.
“We already pay a gas tax and a car tax for roads that are falling apart, and that money has been diverted elsewhere,” DeMaio said.
He further argues that a per-mile charge could place an unfair burden on working-class residents who live well outside major employment hubs because housing costs have pushed them away from job centers.
California has examined mileage-based road charges for years. A pilot program was authorized through SB 1 in 2018, while San Diego County explored a similar local initiative in 2021 before dropping it amid public opposition.
Becerra’s comments come after he also discussed raising taxes on high-income Californians and creating new fees for companies that do not offer adequate health benefits to full-time employees.
The election is Tuesday.