John --

One of the biggest victories we had last year for common sense was defeating the per-mile tax here in San Diego County.

SANDAG — our regional transportation board — was pushing a proposal to charge drivers for every mile they drove. It was an outrageous idea that would’ve hurt families, seniors, and the countless workers who rely on their cars to get to work, school, and appointments.

Thanks to your voices and collective action, we stopped it.

But now, Sacramento is coming for round two.

The State of California is exploring a new statewide California Road Charge — essentially, taxing drivers by the mile instead of by the tank. That means whether you drive an electric vehicle or a gas-powered one, the state wants to track your mileage and charge you for every road you use.

Let’s be clear: this debate shouldn’t be about electric vehicles versus gas-powered cars — it should be about government overspending.

We already pay for our roads through sky-high gas taxes, registration fees, and even property taxes. Yet Sacramento continues to spend irresponsibly. Just last week, the Governor asked for another $3 billion for Medi-Cal because the cost of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants has ballooned.

Instead of cutting waste and focusing on the people they’re supposed to represent, state leaders are once again pushing the financial burden onto hardworking families and seniors.

Yes, more EVs are using the roads — and we should ensure fairness — but the solution isn’t more taxes, it’s less wasteful spending.

I’m raising the alarm now, because I believe we can stop this—just like we did in San Diego. But we’ll need your help again to speak out loud and clear: Californians can’t afford another tax.

Let’s make life more affordable, not more expensive.

Contact your State Senator and State Assemblymember today and tell them to oppose the California Road Charge.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
https://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/