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Pennsylvania Auditor General finds over $4 billion transferred from road projects to state police

Published  April 25, 2019 12:41pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (FOX 29) - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was forced to pay billions of dollars to State Police, leaving over 2,800 neglected roads, highways and bridges to fall further into disrepair, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced today.

According to the audit, over $4.25 billion were transferred to the Motor License Fund to the State Police since the 2012-2013 fiscal year. The reallocation of the money collected from the state's gas tax allowed road work projects to pile up, according to DePasquale.

"That $4.25 billion could have cut that list in half and if PennDOT could use all of the gas tax money for roads and bridges we could get that number to zero in about 5 years."

Pennsylvania's state constitution dictates that money in the Motor License Fund is only allowed to be used for construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair and safety of public highways and bridges.

"There's a whopping 57.6 cents of state tax added to each gallon of gas sold in Pennsylvania," DePasquale said. "Pennsylvanians are frustrated that our roads and bridges still need so much help at the same time we are paying the highest gas tax in the United States."

In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, State Police received over $700 million from the Motor License Fund. The state's General Assembly have enacted a cap on how much can be transferred from the Motor License Fund to the State Police.

"While State Police certainly deserve to be adequately funded, I don't think anyone is thrilled about seeing gas tax revenues being siphoned off for purposes other than improving our roads and bridges," DePasquale said.

Monies for road projects are approved at the governor's discretion through the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund. From Jan. 1, 2014 to Jun. 30, 2017, PennDOT says the governor approved 27 projects totaling over $65 million.

"I recommend that this program be revised to work like a competitive grant program and steps should be taken to ensure all regions of the state have an equal chance to receive funds," DePasquale said.