Ohio lawmakers hike gas, diesel taxes to fund road fixes

Drivers would pay 10.5 cents a gallon more for gas and 19 cents a gallon more for diesel fuel under a long-awaited compromise struck by state lawmakers Tuesday. The compromise ended days of negotiations among legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who had wanted the rate to be much higher. After approval by a bipartisan conference committee, it moved quickly through the full House and Senate. The increases, contained in the state transportation budget, would mean more than $850 million more per year for road and bridge projects. The final deal also sends 45% of the revenue from the tax increase to local governments, up from the 40% they get on the current gas tax.