The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported that Californians pay nearly one dollar more per gallon of gas than the average American. That could change if Californians vote "YES" on Proposition 6 on Tuesday.
The proposition would repeal the gas tax that was passed last year, and it would take away the $100 vehicle fee for zero emission vehicles signed into law in 2017, otherwise known as Senate Bill 1. Money from both the gas tax and the senate bill was put toward road and infrastructure repairs.
The $5.1 billion in revenue collected from the gas tax would go back into the pockets of drivers. On average, that would save a family of four in California $500 a year on gas, according to Yes on Prop 6.
The savings are something Edwin Frank Ortiz, a film production senior at USC, will take into consideration when he casts his vote on Tuesday.
"I have a Jeep," Ortiz said. "I love my Jeep, but it's not the best vehicle for saving gas. Being a college student, I would love to save some money."
While it would not remove gas taxes instituted prior to SB1, Proposition 6 would make it more difficult for new gas taxes to be put in place. Any future proposed motor vehicle and gas taxes would have to first be approved by voters.
The city of Los Angeles has allocated funds from SB1 to 65 projects already. Across Los Angeles county, the Metro has used funds for over a dozen projects, including construction of a new train station on 96th street that would connect commuters to LAX through a shuttle system.
Daria Mohazab, a junior communications major, said she spends $50 on average when she fills up her car once a month. Despite knowing it would be cheaper without the gas tax, she doesn't think voting in favor of Prop 6 is worth the revenue infrastructure projects would lose.
"Paying extra for gas would be better than not having money for infrastructure," Mohazab said. "In LA, a ton of people commute and take the Metro everywhere. A lot of low-income people can't afford cars, so [Prop 6] takes [Metro funding] away from them."
A study by the LA Times and USC Dornsife projects that Proposition 6 won't pass, but nobody will know for sure until votes are counted Tuesday night.
Correction: This story originally contained quotes from someone who was not a USC student. The quotes have since been removed.