In the category of things that are least likely to surprise anyone paying more than $2 per gallon for fuel, three out of four Nevada voters would say “no” to a nickel-a-gallon increase in the state’s fuel taxes to build more roads, according to a newspaper poll.

A telephone poll conducted last month for the Las Vegas Review-Journal showed just 18 percent of respondents supported a boost in the fuel tax. Seventy-six percent opposed such a tax hike for roads and bridges, while 6 percent were undecided.

The issue is drawing attention in Nevada due to a governor-appointed task force exploring options for funding road and bridgework. Increasing the state’s per gallon tax on gasoline and diesel is one option up for discussion.

Nevada officials have said the state needs $2.4 billion to pay for projects statewide, including widening Interstate 15 and U.S. 95 in Las Vegas .

An effort in the Nevada Legislature earlier this year sought to increase the state’s fuel tax by 2 cents per gallon each year for the next five years. It failed to gain approval amid a record price spike.

Gov. Kenny Guinn hopes the task force can come up with a politically viable funding recommendation for the legislative session that begins in 2007. Nevada lawmakers do not meet for a regular legislative session in even-numbered years.

Alternative funding methods discussed by the panel include raising taxes on driver’s licenses or tires, or reallocating sales taxes on vehicle sales to road projects.