Joliet Fuel Tax Proposal Would Shift Burden to Truckers
The City of Joliet is seeking additional revenue from motor fuel taxes to avoid depleting the city’s roadway dollars for vehicle maintenance and replacement.
According to City Manager Beth Beatty, the current annual fuel tax revenue is insufficient to cover the rising costs of vehicle replacements, resulting in competition for funding with other critical projects, such as roadway resurfacing.
“Residents have made it clear that the city should focus on generating a greater financial contribution from truck traffic, which is damaging our roads and contributing to pollution,” said Beatty in a press release from the city.
“We are listening, and by raising the diesel tax, we estimate an additional $1.1 million annually from the very trucks causing damage to our local roadways.”
Joliet currently operates a fleet of approximately 760 vehicles and pieces of equipment, but it lacks the necessary funding to support the maintenance and replacement of these aging assets, the release stated.
“We need to maintain our fleet and replace vehicles and equipment regularly to ensure operational efficiency and public safety.”
The proposed changes to the fuel tax include:
• A 7-cent increase in the diesel tax, bringing it to 11 cents per gallon, aligning with the highest diesel tax rate observed in neighboring areas.
• A 1-cent increase in the gasoline tax, bringing it to 5 cents per gallon, which is comparable to surrounding communities.
A review by the Finance Department found that a 1-cent per gallon increase would align with surrounding communities and limit the potential impact on visitors and Joliet residents.
For example, an individual driving 15,000 miles per year in a vehicle with 20 miles per gallon would see an increase of $7.50 annually.
“Increasing the diesel tax would have a significant impact on trucking, providing a strong opportunity for Joliet to improve its infrastructure by capturing much-needed revenue from the industry,” Beatty explained.
Beatty hopes the City Council will unanimously support the measure.
“It’s a 7-to-1 proposition: 7 cents on the trucking industry and only a penny on individuals. This proposal has the least impact on our residents but the most impact on the trucking industry. It’s time to shift the burden away from our residents, and this proposal accomplishes that.”