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IOWA -- Iowa’s gas tax was last raised in 1989, but there is a debate looming in the state legislature that could change that.

The Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids has reported that lawmakers who see a need to raise revenue to fix Iowa’s aging road system predict there will be support for a phased increase of up to 10 cents per gallon.

The ranking member of the Iowa Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Tim Kapucian, says the plan is loosely based on the recommendations of an advisory group. That group proposed raising registration fees on new vehicles and establishing a new user fee for hybrid vehicles.

Gov. Branstad has said the state will generate enough revenue under the current plan to meet critical needs this year without a tax increase.


The Associated Press contributed to this story.