Prices, Taxes

The Times-Dispatch publishes a daily graphic recording the region's average price for a gallon of regular gasoline. Motorists can consult daily rundowns of prices at specific locations by accessing aaa.midatlantic.com or richmondgasprices.com (a branch of gasbuddy.com).

The other day the local buddies reported a low of $2.30 and a high of $2.59. The two numbers show a difference of 29 cents -- which comes to far more than the amounts proposed by those favoring an increase in the state's gasoline tax.

The recommended tax hike typically runs between 7 and 10 cents a gallon. The variance in pump pricing that already exists suggests consumers could absorb the increase.

We are not fond of taxes, yet the gasoline tax rates as a user's fee. And we have pointed out that damage to cars caused by poorly maintained roads can exceed what drivers pay in taxes over extended periods. There is no guarantee that a few extra cents at the pump will prevent a specific accident from happening, but they can make incidents less likely.

Motorists pay far less in state gasoline levies than they think. They also pay less than their share of the costs of upkeep and new construction. As the commonwealth contemplates its transportation future, the gasoline tax must be on the table.