California drivers are once again facing rising gasoline prices just as the summer driving season begins. Gas Tax Hits New High On July 1, the state gas excise tax increased from 59.6 cents to 61.2 cents per gallon,

Beginning Tuesday, California drivers will pay almost 2 cents more per gallon at gas stations across the state. The price of gas will increase from 59.6 cents to 61.2 cents as part of an annual adjustment for inflation. The gas tax, enacted in 2017, helps pay for road repairs.

The backstory: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office issued a fact-check memo defending the rule and saying the impacts are exaggerated, while Republicans in the Legislature and Congress say it would damage the economy because Californians already pay the most in the nation for gasoline.