Tax Increase for Public Colleges to Begin Collecting Signatures

The initiative to increase taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, alcohol and cigarettes and raise the vehicle license fee to increase funding for public colleges were given approval Monday to begin gathering signatures.

This measure would add $2.2 billion in state tax revenue annually, according to an estimate by the Legislative Analyst's Office. 

The proposed constitutional amendment and statute would add an additional 2.5- cent per gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. There would be a five-cent to $1.65 per gallon increase on alcohol and a 1.25-cent tax on cigarettes. Vehicle license fees would increase by 0.5 percent of the vehicle's market value. 

University of California and California State University would receive 80 percent of the money made by this measure and the remaining 20 percent would go to California Community Colleges. 

The initiative would keep state funding for college education at or above the 2009-2010 levels and student financial aid at or above the 2010-2011 levels. It would also keep the student tuition at 2009-2010 levels.

Valid signatures from 807,615 registered voters (8 percent of the total votes for governor in the 2010 general election) must be submitted by April 15 to qualify as a measure on the November 2014 ballot.