SALT LAKE CITY — When you ring in 2016, you can expect to ring up a higher bill at the pump.
Starting January 1, Utah’s gas tax will increase by about five cents per gallon. It’s part of a tax bill signed into law in March.
The Utah State Tax Commission estimates the increase will generate about $76 million a year.
The Utah Department of Transportation plans to use a lot of the money raised for maintenance of lesser-used roads and bridges.
“This is a game changer,” UDOT Spokesman John Gleason said. “This is going to allow us the ability to get in and address, proactively, our lower-volumed roads and bridges, and let us add years of life to those roads.”
This the first time the state gas tax has been increased since 1997.
