Rell had sought to raise the income tax in 2007 to increase education aid to cities and towns, but she ran into heavy opposition from her fellow Republicans. She abandoned the income tax hike, but the extra education funds survived in a General Fund propped up with fuel tax revenue.

Between 2005 and 2013, about $1.27 billion raised by the tax has been spent on non-transportation programs.

Half of the $2.6 billion raised by wholesale fuel taxes since 2005 (shaded area) has been spent on non-transportation programs. (Graphic by Michael Gambina)

“$1.2 billion has disappeared," said Michael Fox, executive director of an association representing about 400 Connecticut gasoline stations. “It’s not that we didn’t have the money. It’s that the legislature -- and I use this word -- stole the money."