Just as we start to enjoy dropping gas prices now it appears the state gas tax could be going up.  The subject of a gas tax increase was brought up after the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s budget presentation Wednesday to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. While Haslam is not proposing an increase, he’s not ruling one out either. It’s been 25 years since Tennessee raised the gas tax, which is just over 21 cents a gallon. The federal gas tax is 18 cents, which means consumers pay a little more than 39 cents a gallon in taxes.  Governor Haslam said funding road construction and maintenance is an issue the state can no longer ignore. Tennessee currently has a $7 billion backlog of projects that need to be completed.