Are tax dollars being wasted?

Pennsylvania has the highest gas tax rates in the U.S. at 58.2 cents per gallon, with Washington state next at 49.4 cents. Our legislators justified a substantial increase to reduce the backlog of defective roads and bridges. The work on Atherton Street in State College calls into question whether our tax dollars are being well spent.

A force of flaggers exceeding a dozen seem to having nothing to do but stand around. Areas of the street previously dug up appear to need further attention two or three times. Rumors of shoddy installation and wrong pipe usage abound.

So a special sort of Groundhog Day has arrived: Day after day we face delays that suck time and spirit. Can someone explain why the process has taken so long and dispel the belief that our tax dollars are being wasted?

This story was originally published November 8, 2017 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Are tax dollars being wasted?."