CHICAGO – Gas prices statewide and in the tri-county area have increased. That’s all thanks to the recent statewide gas tax hike that took off earlier this month. According to Illinois Director of Public Affairs for the American Automobile Association, Beth Mosher, the tax increase is reflected in today’s numbers. On July 1st a 19-cent gas tax hike went into effect in Illinois, doubling the fuel tax to 38 cents per gallon. As of Monday, Illinois averages around $3.05 per gallon. Putnam County takes the lead in most expensive gas prices locally, at $2.95 a nearly 40 cent increase compared to $2.56 last month. Bureau County takes second in priciest at $2.90 per gallon, a 27 cent increase. LaSalle County is cheapest at $2.80 per gallon, still a 17 cent increase. Mosher says averages are collected via credit card receipts at midnight from 100,000 gas stations across the U.S. For a city like Ottawa, prices are taken from around 12 different gas stations.
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