Lawmaker proposes hiking $5 studded-tire tax to $75

ANCHORAGE (AP) – A lawmaker wants to spike Alaska’s studded-tire tax from $5 to $75.

Sen. Cathy Giessel’s bill is aimed at raising money to repair rutted roads damaged by studded tires, reported KTVA-TV.

Giessel called the tax hike a “public safety user fee.”

“There are states in northern climates that do ban studded tires, but this is not a ban,” she said. “It is a user fee to help to restore the damage that’s caused from the studded tires.”

The higher tax would add $300 to the cost of four studded tires compared with the current $20.

“While the state is facing these budget cutbacks, my conce...