California is notorious for many different things including, but not limited to: 72 degree weather, beaches, healthy eating, clean living and high gas prices. For years, California residents continuously fought head-to-head with some of the largest gas prices per gallon in the nation, with gas prices of almost five dollars a gallon. After years of gas prices in California rising substantially in short periods of time, Californians experienced a quick relief when gas prices finally began to drop in the fall of 2014. However, this feeling of relief may be short lived with the California government implementing a gas tax, taking effect on the first day of 2015.

“It’s annoying that we’ve finally gotten some relief with the large gas prices, and now, we may have to start planning again for gas prices to rise back up,” resident Lynn Reynolds said. “I haven’t heard much about how much the tax will re-inflate prices, but I can only hope that it won’t be too bad.”

It still remains undetermined how much the tax will actually drive up prices, but some economists argue that there will be a steady rise beginning in January, with no visible cap on how high it will raise.

“I’d foresee less actual change in people’s driving habits because gas has only been lowered recently,” senior Sarah Sheets said.

As a commuter to her work, senior Sarah Sheets is one of the many people who will experience the negative affects of a potential raise in gas prices.

“A raise in gas prices means taking the bus or train might actually be a cheaper way of commuting, which is scary because that alone costs me around 16.50 two ways,” Sheets said.

The gas tax, though it may seem unreasonable on the surface, especially after Californian’s have experienced such high gas prices, will hopefully allow for the reduction of greenhouse gases. The implemented tax on oil is aimed to hopefully reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the long run, as the tax will affect both the suppliers and the demanders of the oil.

“As much as the government likes to say that their tax will help us in the long run, it’s just not reasonable to think that anymore,” Reynolds said. “After dealing with such high gas prices for so many years, I don’t want to have to deal with it again.”