SAN DIEGO – California’s Board of Equalization voted earlier this week to reduce the per-gallon excise tax on a gallon of regular gasoline by 3.5 cents to 36 cents per gallon, U-T San Diego reports.

The tax takes effect July 1 and comes a year after the board voted to raise the tax by 3.5 cents per gallon.

“Today we have some good news for California taxpayers,” said Board Vice Chair Michelle Steel. “Because of our vote today, all Californians will benefit from a little less pain at the pump."

State officials made the decision to lower the tax rate due to projections of falling gas prices. A gallon of gas in San Diego is down more than 40 cents since a year ago.

Since 2010, a public agency in California sets the state’s excise tax rate based on a formula called the “fuel-tax swap,” which incorporates consumption and gas price projections.