It is not just the state, it is at the county and city level here in Sheboygan, Wis. We have an annual $20 city wheel tax along with a half penny county sales tax that is for roads. The wheel tax is exclusive for streets. Our roads in our county and city were really bad. My regular mechanic said that last year he has replaced more springs, blown struts and shocks than ever. My dealer parts guy said he was not surprised as to how many alloy wheels he has had to order for customers due to potholes. While there are bad spots, there have been many improvements that I think have made things for the better. Years ago we had a wheel tax that was a campaign pledge by a mayor to get rid of. They got rid of it and then streets went downhill fast. Things are looking better here fortunately.
It's not just MI, Iowa, or central Iowa (Polk, Dallas, Warren etc) just came back for the third time for local option sales tax increases. This time though they threatened the population that if they didn't vote for it they would raise property taxes again.
Many states (or counties / munis) are in trouble, they've made big promises to pensions, some open ended promises, that they can't afford with current levels of taxation.
They're now trying to ride the supposed 'good times' with higher taxes of all sorts to at least make a dent in the shortfalls that are coming. My property taxes went up 26.5% last year through a change in value and a change in the levy rate. That's one reason I'm moving out of central iowa.
Further, as has been said before, voters need to have guarantees that the funds will go for what they need and what they're being told.
If the funds, like in Iowa, are ending up keeping mayoral promises to move everyone in the employment of the City to $15 minimum wage then there's going to be angry tax payers.
I think everyone knows that when the 'good times' are here the tax increases come hot n heavy. Just a few years back when oil prices were very low and fuel was low the Iowa House rushed a measure through to increase fuel tax by 10 cents per gallon. There was almost zero debate and I think they got it done in two days before constituents could raise a ruckus about it. That tells you exactly how much they really care about the people they represent.
At any rate, taxes go up when times are good, if you can call it that, and then when the pain comes via recession or stagnation cities and states twiddle their thumbs and won't talk about about adjusting taxes downward to reflect changes.
The other complaint I have is that now cities / states are pulling out certain things from the general budget and trying to fund them separately via additional taxes or fees. The DOT and roads are one of those that currently is trying to be funded outside normal channels. What happened to the moneys that were paid by tax payers that were supposed to go there?
Be very careful about voting for tax increases, once it's done you know it'll never be undone.