Honestly, from this guy’s tax perspective, I’m sure it’s a benefit to the people that live there, but unless you’re really a high wage earner, I think it’s closer to a wash than most people realize.
Why? Most states without an income tax typically have a more aggressive structure in place for sales taxes. Texas is the perfect example where there are State, County, City, Transit and Special District sales taxes galore. Yes, these are a function of what you spend. However, the average person is spending a higher percentage of their income on things than a wealthier person would. And the wealthier person can more easily afford the taxes.
The climate of a state plays a big role too. Here in the northeast the weather can be brutal on roads, bridges, airports etc... In a place where it rarely snows or ices, there is no need to fund that equipment. No need for ice melter, sand, salt, or the labor to move it. No need to repair roads constantly from the salting, freezing, cracking, expanding, plowing... it all takes a toll. Larger populations mean large Police Force, Fire Brigades, 911 infrastructure. Larger schools. It’s all related.
That said, most professional athletes have residency in TX or FL. And the reason is simple - no tax! Which goes to my point about the very wealthy being helped the most.
No need to repair roads constantly from the salting, freezing, cracking, expanding, plowing... it all takes a toll. Larger populations mean large Police Force, Fire Brigades, 911 infrastructure. Larger schools. It’s all related.
Our roads in Houston (either the 3rd largest metro area, or the 4th largest) are constantly under construction/repair/tear away and re-build. We have more cars, and the extreme heat and humidity, not to mention the floods and runaway barges (I-10 in Baytown) makes the roads and the underlying ground susceptible to washing away.