I thought this site was interesting:

<a href='http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/P111921.asp?special=0502tax&Rating=10&PageID=111921#Rating' target='_blank'>http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/...D=111921#Rating</a>

Some comparisons among the states. However, there are some misleading numbers since Maryland collects county taxes along w/ state taxes. Since it can be over 3% of your taxable income in some counties...it's significant!

AND it relates to one of my long ago posts about businesses settling in Florida. I am concerned that businesses leave places like NY (and of course my beloved Ohio) to go to a low tax state. One big reason that FL has low taxes is weather. If you don't have to take care of bridges (expensive!) and plow and repair roads (freeze/thaw cycles) you can signficantly cut costs.

BUT, you have hurricanes in FL. But, when the Fed bails out the state due to such a disaster, it's an unfair advantage...and it DOUBLY penalizes a place like NY, who has lost its tax base, and now must pay its own costs AND the costs for folks who have moved away.

One response to this (from another board I believe) informed me that FL had a very high gasoline tax, and some other methods of collecting revenue to pay for hurricane type disasters. Well, the former obviously isn't accurate, as their gas tax is pretty low.

So, I go back to my original concern.

Oh, and it might be interesting to see a comparison of taxes paid vs 2004 election voting...kind of like the IQ one. I suspect that lower taxes tended to support Bush. Isn't keeping your money a sign of a higher IQ? :angel:

DrTorch Wrote:BUT, you have hurricanes in FL. But, when the Fed bails out the state due to such a disaster, it's an unfair advantage...and it DOUBLY penalizes a place like NY, who has lost its tax base, and now must pay its own costs AND the costs for folks who have moved away.

Or worse, New Yorkers are paying for the people who are living there for not quite half the year and not paying any taxes.

If you have been to Miami in the winter, you know what I mean. A lot of older people with that New York accent. Get in your 6 months and one day and head on back to New York.