If you drive a gas-powered truck, every time you fill up in Washoe County, you're paying about 57 cents per gallon in fuel tax. That money goes straight to fixing and building roads.
If your neighbor drives a shiny new Tesla, he uses the same roads, but he pays nothing toward them.
Is that fair? Washoe County voters will get to weigh in this November.
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 on Tuesday to put an advisory question on the November ballot. The question asks voters whether electric vehicle (EV) drivers should pay a fee to help fund roads. It doesn't impose a new tax. It simply asks what voters think.
Why This Is a Growing Problem
This isn't just a philosophical argument. It's a math problem.
EV registrations in Washoe County jumped 407% between June 2020 and June 2024, according to a report from the Guinn Center, a nonpartisan think tank. More EVs on the road means fewer gallons of gas being sold — and less money flowing into the road fund.
The gas tax funds more than $558 million in needed roadway improvements over the next five years and is the primary local funding source for some $5 billion in planned improvements over the next 30 years.
That's a big number. And it's being built on a shrinking foundation.
Since the gas tax was put into law, it has raised more than $850 million for the roads. But that system only works if people keep buying gas. As more drivers plug in instead of pumping, the whole model starts to crack.
What the Commission Said
Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, who also sits on the RTC board, put it plainly.
“I am fully in support of hearing from the voters in November about what they think on this fairness issue,” she said.
“It boils down to fairness. We know people are driving more, but if you're not contributing to our roads, it's not sustainable.”
Why Conservatives Should Pay Attention
This is exactly the kind of issue that should matter to anyone who believes in limited government and personal responsibility. The gas tax isn't a great tax, but at least it's a user fee.
The problem is that green energy subsidies and mandates have created a two-tiered system. Gas car drivers — often working-class folks who can't afford a $50,000 EV — are subsidizing the road usage of wealthier EV owners.
More than 30 states already have registration fees placed on EVs to generate road funding money.
What Critics Are Saying
EV supporters argue their cars are already more expensive upfront, so adding fees feels like a penalty for going green. Some say a mileage-based fee would be fairer than a flat registration charge. Others worry this opens the door to new taxes down the road — no pun intended.
Those are fair points to consider. And to be clear, this November question is advisory only. If passed, the results head to Carson City for lawmakers to decide whether to draft a bill setting a fee schedule. Nobody's tax bill changes overnight.
What Voters Think
The public seems ready for this conversation. In a recent survey of Washoe County voters, half said the need for transportation funding was “great,” and six in ten said they would vote yes on such an advisory measure.
Carson City tried a similar path in 2024. Two ballot measures to raise road revenue failed by wide margins, with less than a third of Carson City residents voting in favor.
That's a cautionary tale for how these things can go when voters feel like they're being hit with new taxes.
What You Can Do
If you live in Washoe County, pay attention to this question when you head to the polls in November.
Read what the RTC puts out. Ask your county commissioners how they plan to structure any future fee — flat rate, mileage-based, or something else. Make sure the money is actually spent on roads and not siphoned off for other government priorities.
This is one of those issues where conservatives can shape the outcome. A user-fee approach that makes all drivers pay their share is the right principle. The question is whether lawmakers in Carson City will get it right — or turn it into yet another excuse to grow government.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
