Oahu motorists would pay 3 cents more per gallon of gasoline under a fuel tax increase approved today by the City Council Budget Committee.

The plan must still be approved by the full council.
Introduced by Budget Chairman Nestor Garcia, it would take effect Aug. 1.
Motorists now pay 16.5 cents a gallon in city fuel taxes.
Garcia said the increase would help balance the city’s $50 million shortfall by bringing in about $9 million more annually.
Each penny-per-gallon increase would net the city an additional $3 million in revenues.