South Carolina has joined the growing list of states pushing for a fuel tax increase to help generate transportation revenue.

State Sen. Scott Richardson (R-Beaufort County) introduced a measure Jan. 14 to increase the state’s fuel tax by 5 cents a gallon. Revenue would be deposited into the state’s highway fund.

Several states have introduced legislation in the opening weeks of their legislative sessions to boost fuel taxes while other states are expected to debate possible increases.

Lawmakers are trying to create transportation funding at a time when state governments are cutting their overall budgets and canceling or suspending road projects.

Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president, says the trend is unlikely to slow anytime soon.

“Every state is coping with a shortfall,” he said. “States are looking at almost every possible source to boost revenue. Unfortunately, we as truckers, operating in many states, are going to have our hands full at the state and federal level.”

An issue that Spencer says must be stressed: “Every state should use highway-user taxes specifically and exclusively for repair and maintenance of the highway system without the diversion that is common.”

The bill, S176, also would allow the tax to be adjusted each year for inflation.

Spencer says the association is especially dead set against this provision.

“Truckers aren’t able to adjust their rates for inflation,” he said. “In most instances in recent years truckers haven’t been able to adjust rates to offset any increased cost.”

--by Keith Goble, staff writer