Gas prices drop slightly in Adams Co., WA and nationally
Jun. 2—MOSES LAKE — Gas prices this week saw a slight decline in Adams County, Washington and nationally compared to last week, according to AAA. However, in Grant County, there was a two-cent increase on average.
Grant County gas prices have been steadily increasing for the past month from $4.28 on May 12 to $4.36 on June 2. There has been around a two to four cent increase every week for the last four weeks, according to AAA.
Adams County saw a slight decrease in average gas prices, with a one-cent drop this week at $4.31. One month ago, May 12, gas in Adams County was around $4.20.
Both Grant and Adams County remain in the middle of gas prices across the state, according to AAA. San Juan County is the most expensive in the state at $5.47, a 12-cent increase from last week. Asotin County remained the cheapest at $3.70, an 11-cent decrease from last week.
Washington state saw its first decrease in gas prices after a little over a month. The average is sitting at $4.40, a two-cent decrease from last week but still five cents more expensive than two weeks ago, according to AAA. However, the current average is around 11 cents lower than a year ago, which was about $4.51.
Washington remains one of the most expensive states to purchase gas, with only California at $4.78 and Hawaii at $4.48, both average price tags per gallon, having higher prices in the nation.
Nationally, gas prices have dropped to around $3.14, which is about four cents cheaper than last week's average of $3.18. The current average is around four cents cheaper than a month ago, which was sitting at $3.18. Gas prices are significantly cheaper now than a year ago, when gas was sitting at around $3.54, or 40 cents more.
Legislation
In recent legislative developments, the Washington Legislature passed a transportation revenue package that is poised to raise the state's gasoline tax by six cents per gallon, effective July 27.
The governor signed Senate Bill 5801 into law May 20.
"Washingtonians expect us to deliver on our promises — to finish long-overdue projects, repair aging infrastructure, and ensure our transportation systems can support the needs of a growing state," said Senate Transportation Committee chair and bill sponsor Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) in a statement. "This is a sensible, bipartisan solution that balances multiple funding tools while keeping the system running smoothly. I'm grateful for Sen. Curtis King's partnership in crafting a revenue plan that prioritizes long-term progress for transportation systems statewide."
This increase is noteworthy as it marks the first adjustment to the gas tax since 2016 and is part of a broader strategy to address escalating project costs and diminishing revenues from the gas tax due to a growing shift toward more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to the bill report.
Under the proposed plan, the gasoline tax will rise from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents per gallon, according to the bill. Following this initial increase, the tax is slated to rise by an additional 2% annually to keep pace with inflation.
This legislative action comes in response to financial needs for transportation infrastructure, as lawmakers aim to generate approximately $3.2 billion over a six-year period, Liias said in a statement.
"Raising fees and taxes is not something we take lightly, but we determined it was the only solution to address our state's transportation challenges," said Ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Curtis King (R-Yakima), in a statement.
Simultaneously, the diesel tax is set to increase by three cents starting at the same time, with an additional three-cent increase two years later, also accompanied by a yearly 2% rise thereafter.
The anticipated revenue from this tax adjustment is expected to contribute roughly $160 million to the transportation budget over the same period.
"We listened to concerns and made sure the plan is fair and practical," Liias said in a statement. "This is about making smart investments to build a transportation network that works for everyone — now and in the future."
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