Barry is absolutely correct about state and municipal governments being in trouble. Thanks to the collusion between politicians and public employee unions they have have run up ruinous pension obligations without putting aside enough money to pay for them. Some cites most of the real estate taxes go simply to pay for retiree benefits.
State and municipal governments are in trouble because they have WAY too many counterproductive bureaucrats and meddlers. We need police, firemen and teachers. We need folks to maintain our roads. We don’t need six guys standing around watching one guy work. Or 2.3 “other” educrats for every classroom teacher.