(Photo By Flickr User Miss Shari)

Illinois residents could face a higher gas tax after Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel suggested raising the tax rate.

According to the Tax Foundation & WAND-TV, Illinois has not raised taxes on gasoline since 1990, but Illinois is still the tenth highest state in the nation for gas prices. Departing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to change that.

Emanuel is considering doubling statewide gasoline tax to pay for local transpiration projects.

The hike could be as high as 20 to 30 cents per gallon, and Emanuel wants to secure new capitol funding from the state before his term ends in the Spring 2019.

To fill up a 15-gallon gas tank, at 20 cents per gallon, would raise prices by about three dollars. And for a 30 cent tax raise, prices would increase by about four dollars and fifty cents.

Illinois is just one of seven states that imposes a sales tax on gas, and with this tax hike, someone who uses over 600 gallons of gas a year would pay between 130 to 200 dollars more in taxes.

High taxes are the number one reason people in Illinois cite for wanting to leave the state.