California lawmakers voted last month to continue studying a controversial road usage charge that could tax drivers 6 to 9 cents per mile, according to East County Magazine. The measure, AB 1421, passed the Assembly 43-18 and now awaits action in the State Senate.

District 75 Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, who represents East County including areas adjacent to Santee, vehemently opposed the bill. "California already has the highest car tax in the nation. We have the highest gas taxes in the nation," DeMaio said on the Assembly floor. "A mileage tax would just be the final straw that breaks the camel's back."

The legislation, brought forth by Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Lori Wilson, would extend an existing pilot program studying mileage-based revenue collection as an alternative to the gas tax. Wilson argues the current funding system is "becoming less stable, less equitable, and less sustainable" as more drivers switch to fuel-efficient and zero-emission vehicles.

For East County residents who commute to urban San Diego for work, the impact could be significant. DeMaio estimates a typical two-car family with two working parents would pay $4,200 annually when combining the proposed mileage tax with existing car registration and gas taxes. "Working class Californians have to drive longer, so it's a more expensive proposition," he said.

The bill does not impose a new tax but continues research into tracking methods, which could include transponders on vehicles, tracking apps on cell phones, or annual odometer inspections. Wilson said the committee will hold town hall meetings in San Diego County and statewide to gather feedback before any policy decisions are made.

According to East County Magazine, this is not the first time San Diego County residents have faced a mileage tax proposal. The San Diego Association of Governments approved one several years ago but rescinded it after public outcry.