COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Ohio House Finance Committee has approved an increase in the state's gasoline tax that is smaller than Governor Mike DeWine is proposing.
Committee members authorized an increase in the tax by 10.7-cents per gallon, with DeWine wanting the tax increased by 18-cents a gallon.
Currently, Ohio charges 28-cents per gallon in taxes.
The increase is needed, according to DeWine, so avoid a budget shortfall in the Ohio Department of Transportation. DeWine argued 18-cents per gallon was the minimum needed to avoid the deficit, even as cuts are made in the department.
House Finance Committee Chairman Scott Oelslager says 18-cents per gallon, all at one time, would be too much for his constituents.
The proposal still needs approval from other legislative committees and the full Ohio House and Senate before it would go into effect.
(photo courtesy Getty Images)