Traffic congestion and several other transportation problems have Georgia lawmakers considering raising the state’s fuel tax by as much as 10 cents a gallon.

“We’ve got to face up to the fact that Georgia motorists aren’t paying their fair share,” House Transportation Chair Paul Smith told the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Smith, D-Rome, confirmed to the newspaper state transportation leaders are considering a yearlong effort to sell a tax hike to the General Assembly and voters before proposing legislation during the 2005 session.

The state’s fuel tax of about 12 cents a gallon is among the lowest in the nation. But previous attempts to increase the tax to pump more money into the state’s $2 billion a year transportation budget have stalled.

Lawmakers also are considering allowing counties to pass local fuel tax increases to pay for transportation improvements within their borders. Such a proposal could come as early as the legislative session that kicks off Jan. 12.

Georgia DOT officials are expected to decide whether to try the state fuel tax increase in the next 30 days, before the county idea gets too far.