Can you afford a gas tax hike? – Vote

When it comes to driving in New Jersey, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) says “You can pay a little now or pay a lot later."

In other words, you're going to get a gas tax whether you want it or not. The Transportation Trust Fund, which goes toward road, bridge and tunnel projects, is set to run out of money by June 2016, and politicians in Trenton refuse to act like we have a spending problem.

At this point in the discussion, using a gas tax hike to replenish the TTF would mean a 25 cent per gallon increase on top of the existing 10.5 cent gas tax. Wisniewski says that's about $180 per year for the average driver.

As Irene from Pittstown pointed out, many politicians won't even feel the impact of this bill personally, because they drive state cars and don't pay for their own gas.

When I think about commuting college students, moms carting their kids to sports outings, and idling in unavoidable Garden State traffic, this number grows in my mind.

Can you afford it? And if you can, do you think the gas tax will really make a difference? Tell us in the comments section and poll below.