MARYLAND (WBFF) — Shoppers across Maryland say they are feeling the strain of rising costs at the grocery store, and some are pointing to what they describe as an increasingly heavy tax burden.
“I went to the market and got a few things and I was already at $60,” one shopper said.
Another added, “We pay too much and we don’t get enough for our money.”
ALSO READ | As Maryland votes on Question 3, ad funding trail leads to little-known nonprofit
In the past four years, Maryland has added 300 new taxes, and new research says the state is now the seventh-highest taxed state in the country.
After comparing taxes in all 50 states, researchers with Self Financial concluded the average Maryland taxpayer will pay $1.1 million in taxes over a lifetime. That is the same amount of taxes a California resident would pay over a lifetime, according to the research.
By comparison, the research found a lifetime resident in Florida would pay $509,000 in taxes — about half as much as taxpayers in Maryland.
“Florida is attracting people and Maryland is pushing them out,” David Williams, a taxpayer advocate, said.
Williams said Florida is thriving because its tax burden is far lower.
“Lower taxes bring in more businesses and they have a bigger tax base and while taxes may be lower they have more taxpayers and therein lies what Maryland needs to do,” Williams said.
But, not everyone is looking to leave.
“Do I want to go to a state like Florida? Absolutely not,” Shane Stephens, a lifelong Marylander who said his biggest concern is how tax dollars are being spent, said.
“The problem comes into play…the people we elect, are they spending the money appropriately?” Stephens asked.
A recent Forbes study shows Marylanders’ average annual income is also in the top 10 nationally, but still, critics complain the state has far too high of a tax burden.
“Maryland is not a good place to live financially and they need to change course,” Williams said.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
Local Story
