Bill Would Add Wisconsin Gas Tax Rate Sticker At The Pump

MILWAUKEE, WI --Wisconsin is one of the most-taxed states when it comes to gasoline taxes, and one state legislator is circulating a bill to inform consumers of how much they're paying at the pump in combined taxes per gallon.

State Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) circulated legislation that would require Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to place stickers identifying the current gas tax on fuel pumps during their regular yearly inspections.

“People have a right to know how much they are paying in taxes,” Hutton said in a statement to Patch. “When it comes to the gas tax that cost is often hidden because the tax is not advertised separately from the cost of gas. This is a commonsense bill that will provide transparency so Wisconsin families know exactly how much they are paying in taxes each time they fill up.”

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has proposed raising the Motor Fuel Tax by 8 cents per gallon in his proposed 2019-21 biennial budget, while also eliminating the minimum markup on motor fuel. According to fiscal estimates provided by the Governor's office, the measures would raise an estimated $485 million.

Wisconsin’s combined gas tax is 51 cents per gallon. At an average price of $2.67 per gallon that amounts to a 19 percent tax, Hutton said. That tax costs the average family with a minivan approximately $10 each time they fill up.

The legislation would require DATCP to design a sticker that will be placed at each gas pump around Wisconsin. This sticker will identify the current federal and state gas tax and will be placed on fuel pumps during DATCP’s annual pump inspection.

Highest Gas Taxes By State, not counting 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal tax.

1. 58.70 - Pennsylvania
2. 55.22 - California
3. 49.40 - Washington
4. 47.88 - Hawaii
5. 45.76 - New York
6. 43.80 - Connecticut
7. 41.36 - Florida
8. 37.10 - New Jersey
9. 36.77 - Oregon
10. 35.70 - West Virginia
11. 35.35 - North Carolina
12. 35.30 - Maryland
13. 34.00 - Rhode Island
14. 33.78 - Nevada
15. 33.00 - Idaho
16. 32.90 - Wisconsin
17. 32.25 - Montana
18. 31.59 - Georgia
19. 31.22 - Vermont
20. 30.50 - Iowa
21. 30.01 - Maine
22. 30.00 - South Dakota
23. 29.41 - Utah
24. 29.00 - Indiana
25. 28.90 - Nebraska
26. 28.60 - Minnesota
27. 28.01 - Ohio
28. 26.54 - Massachusetts
29. 26.40 - Tennessee
30. 26.30 - Michigan
31. 26.00 - Kentucky
32. 24.03 - Kansas
33. 24.00 - Wyoming
34. 23.83 - New Hampshire
35. 23.50 - District of Columbia
36. 23.00 - Delaware
37. 23.00 - North Dakota
38. 22.40 - Virginia
39. 22.00 - Colorado
40. 21.80 - Arkansas
41. 21.09 - Alabama
42. 20.75 - South Carolina
43. 20.01 - Louisiana
44. 20.00 - Oklahoma
45. 20.00 - Texas
46. 19.00 - Arizona
47. 19.00 - Illinois
48. 18.88 - New Mexico
49. 18.79 - Mississippi
50. 17.35 - Missouri
51. 14.65 - Alaska

(2018 figures)