Spokane drivers will face higher gas prices as Washington gas tax increases next week

Spokane, WASH. — Washington drivers will pay more at the pump starting next week as the state’s gas tax rises by one cent per gallon, pushing the total state gas tax to 56 cents per gallon. The increase is the first in a series of annual hikes lawmakers say are necessary to fund transportation projects and road maintenance across the state.

Washington already holds the third-highest gas tax in the nation. In Spokane, the average price for a gallon of gas currently sits at $4.72 — roughly one dollar above the national average. Statewide, Washington drivers are paying an average of $5.24 per gallon. Just across the border in Idaho, drivers are paying significantly less, with the average price at $4.17 per gallon.

Lawmakers argue the annual increases are essential because existing tax revenue falls short of what is needed to cover transportation infrastructure costs. But many Spokane residents say they aren’t seeing the benefits of those dollars in their community.

“They keep taxing us but I don’t see anything on this side of the Cascades,” said Blaine Hennan, a Spokane resident. “Everything on the other side seems to be going fine. Over here, we have road construction that’s been going on for years — the bridge, the new interstate, for example — and we just sit here and wait.”

For some residents, the financial pressure is more immediate. A single mother currently staying at a shelter with her two children said her car is her most critical resource as she works toward stable housing.

“My car is pretty much my livelihood. It’s the only thing I have to fall back on,” said Sarah Hill, a Spokane resident.

Hill said the cumulative effect of repeated price increases is taking a toll on her family’s finances.

“I’ve been struggling trying to even afford to gas up my car, and if they’re raising it again, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Hill said.

Beyond the gas tax, Washington is also rolling out new fees on vehicle registration and increasing weight fees for commercial trucks — adding further costs for drivers and businesses that rely on the road.

While the one-cent increase may appear modest, it is part of a structured, multi-year plan that will continue to add to the cost of driving in Washington state in the years ahead.