Mount Vernon's new mayor has come up with a way to raise millions of dollars to fix the city's crumbling infrastructure: by increasing the city's gas tax.

Democratic Mayor Richard Thomas says increasing the gas tax in Mount Vernon by 8 cents a gallon would raise an estimated $2 million a year. The 8 cents would be in addition to 64 cents that drivers pay in state and federal gas taxes.

The money would be used to fix parks, sewers, bridges and roads.

"I'm asking all the motorists out there to ask themselves, would you rather pay $1.92 or pay a couple of hundred bucks to fix your flat after you hit a massive pothole?" says Thomas. "Right now, our roads are a major challenge."

Some residents support the idea. "I believe that the best use of a gasoline tax is to improve the roads because when you get the gas you drive on the roads," says David O'Keene.

"I don't want to pay more for gas," says Mayer Oliveria, who disagrees with Thomas' plan. "The roads are bad, but they're not bad enough to charge that much money."

If gas prices rise to $3.25 a gallon, Thomas says the extra gas tax would be suspended.

In order for the gas tax to become a reality, Thomas must first convince lawmakers in Albany. It is unclear whether he has support for his plan.