Service station owners across the North Olympic Peninsula are advising customers that, effective Tuesday, the state’s new five-cent gas tax will likely be passed along at gas pumps.
Gov. Gary Locke last month signed into law transportation legislation that would raise $4.2 billion for the state coffers through the five-cent gas tax and a 0.3 percent sales tax surcharge on motor vehicles.
The funds will be used to keep roads safer, alleviate traffic congestion and put thousands of people to work, Locke said.
For many gas station owners struggling to hold down prices, it’s not good news.
“We’re running at a minimum profit as it is with all the increase and there’s no way to take and eat a five-cent increase,” said Marie DeOng, owner of Bill’s Texaco and Food Mart in Forks. She said her price for unleaded was at $1.69 a gallon on Sunday.
“I actually was going to drop my price, but will have to split the difference with the increase,” DeOng said, adding that she and customers were doubtful any revenues collected through the taxes would be used outside the Interstate 5 corridor.
On the other side of the Peninsula in Port Hadlock, sentiments were similar.
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