Don’t expect gas prices in Georgia to drop anytime soon.

On Sunday, May 1 an automatic tax hike kicked in across the state, raising gas prices by 3 cents a gallon.

On Monday, a gallon of regular unleaded cost over a dollar more than a year ago.

According to AAA, Georgia’s average pump price reached $3.84, the highest figure in three years.

The tax increase reflects a twice-yearly tax adjustment pegged to the average cost of a gallon of gas.

The American Petroleum Institute claims Georgians pay an average tax of about 40 cents per gallon.

Despite the recent increase, Georgia’s gas prices sit about 10 cents lower than the national average.

Tags: economy, gas prices, gas, oil, Georgia economy