Southwestern Connecticut drivers will be paying more at the pump thanks to an increase in a gas tax.

The gross receipts tax increased on July 1 from 6.3 percent to 7 percent of the wholesale price. The tax is paid by the gas company on the wholesale price and then passed on to customers.

The tax increase translates to approximately 3 to 4 cents a gallon for drivers.

This is the third of five incremental increases passed by lawmakers in 2005 to fund transportation improvements. With the record-high gas prices, lawmakers did consider suspending the increase or capping the tax, but those proposals didn?t make it to the final budget.

Related Information:News 12 Connecticut Gas Gauge