Rate; deposit into General Fund.

(a)

(1) The District shall levy and collect a tax on motor vehicle fuels equal to 8.0% of the average wholesale price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline for the applicable base period, excluding federal and state taxes, sold or otherwise disposed of by an importer or by a user, or used for commercial purposes. In no case shall the average wholesale price computed for purposes of this section be less than $2.94.

(2) The average wholesale price shall be calculated for adjustment of the motor vehicle fuel tax effective April 1 and October 1 of each year. When computing the average wholesale price of a gallon of motor vehicle fuel, the District shall use the monthly Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) Regular Gasoline Wholesale/Resale Price by Refiners data compiled by the US Energy Information Administration, or equivalent wholesale price data. Monthly price data for the period from July 1 through December 31, rounded to the nearest one half-cent, shall be used to determine the tax for the immediately following period beginning April 1. Monthly price data for the period from January 1 through June 30, rounded to the nearest one half-cent, shall be used to determine the tax for the immediately following period beginning October 1.

(3) In no case shall an average wholesale price computed for purposes of this section vary by more than 10% from the average wholesale price for the prior period.

(b) The proceeds of the taxes imposed under §§ 47-2302 through 47-2315 , and the money collected from fees charged for the registration and titling of motor vehicles, including fees charged for the issuance of permits to operate motor vehicles, shall be deposited in the General Fund of the District of Columbia established under § 47-131 .