HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Pennsylvania's auditor general says an audit of PennDOT shows the agency could do more work on roads and bridges if it didn't send big bucks to state police.
Eugene DePasquale is calling on the state legislature to fix the funding issue.
DePasquale's PennDOT audit found $4.2 billion from the motor vehicle fund went to fund state police since 20-12.
“That is money that PennDOT could otherwise have been used to address a growing list of repairs needed across the state including those 2,829 structure-deficient state owned bridges.”
All while Pennsylvania has a 57.6 cents a gallon gasoline tax, the highest in the nation.
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards says part of the problem is the growing number of municipalities relying on State Police for law enforcement.
“Governor Wolf has proposed a per-capital sliding scale fee from municipalities that would help address the State Police funding issue.
DePasquale and Richards are both calling on Congress to increase spending on transportation and infrastructure.
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