Senate Clears Fee Increases to Help Roads

West Virginia senators have cleared a bill aimed at fixing roads by raising the state sales tax, DMV fees and the gas tax in certain instances.

The GOP-led Senate voted 25-9 on Wednesday to send the bill to the Republican-led House, which has been more reluctant to raise taxes.

The bill would raise about $316 million annually to put into roads. A one-cent hike in the current six-cent sales tax would yield the bulk of the money at $200 million.

About $66.3 million would be raised by increasing DMV fees, from driver’s licenses to car titles. Broadening and lowering the privilege tax on car purchases would raise $17 million.

Raising the gas tax by three cents when wholesale prices are $2 or lower, among other adjustments, would yield $33 million.