Because Jerry Brown needs more money for graft.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2017/12/19/california-vehicle-registration-fees-increasing-in-2018
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/sd-fi-california-gastax-20170413-story.html
I'll get off my soap box now since we're supposed to keep politics off the forum.
Ed
not politicking, thats just factual Ed.
To play devils advocate, I think 1 benficial thing fo the gas tax is it affects everyone who drives (gasoline powered) vehicles equally. The poor and the rich, those that don't pay taxes and those that do.
I don't buy into the idea that, improving roads is going to save each consumer $700 a year. Thats BS.
There are other states that are able to stay in the black. It is interesting when you look at the political map, how the red states do vs. the blue states, as far as being fiscally responsible. Obviously California is the largest in debt. Although largely considered a blue state, because of the metropolitan voter influence, outside the metropolitan areas California is very RED.
It is also interesting when you look at the history of California's Governors. Arnold Swartznegger got elected based on A recall effort of Gray Davis (former governor) that raised the registration fees for vehicles, and once Arnold was elected he lowered the registration fees, just long enough to AGAIn raise them back up to where Gray Davis had them. But lets not kid ourselves into thinking Arnold was fiscally conservative either.
One more note: California license plates used red letters on a white background for the month sticker intially, and I believe in the early nineties they switched to blue letters on a white background for the stickers.
I have lived in a handful of different states, but grew up and have spent most of my time here in Calfornia. I am not going to tell you California has the best political climate, or its political leaders represent most of the citizens of the state. There is good weather in some parts of the state, and I guess many of us hope there is some sort of revolt , and at some point we get back to sanity here regarding taxes, and the social issues.