Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania drivers are hit hard at the gas pump every day by paying the highest gas tax in the country. So, why are there still thousands of needed road repairs? 

During a press conference on Friday, State Auditor Eugene DePasquale said a list of thousands of needed road repairs could have been cut in half at this point had all that gas tax money gone to repairing roads and bridges.

Instead, the auditor said $4.2 billion from PennDot had been transferred to the State Police over the past six years.

"The State Police need to be funded," said DePasquale. "But that should not be coming out of the motor license fund."

Nearly 58-cents for every gallon of gas pumped goes into the pocket of the state in Pennsylvania. That's about $5.75 more out of a driver's pocket for every ten gallons pumped.

"That's why I won't buy gas where I live," said Joanna Wilson from Farrell. "I'll take the ten-minute drive to Hubbard to go get gas where it's cheaper."

"I do support the State Police, of course, but I'm kind of surprised, to be honest with you," said Antonia Gibson of Sharon.

Here in the Valley, emergency patchwork is being done on Interstate 80 between the Ohio line and Route 19. The actual reconstruction of those 15 miles isn't expected to begin until 2023, but the auditor said it would be a high priority to get done sooner if the funds were available.

In response to the auditor's report, State Rep. Stan Saylor said since at least the 60's the gas tax has helped fund state police. He said, lawmakers have actively worked to reduce how much police depend on that money, and two years ago a law was put in place to reduce how much funding they get from the tax gradually.