Everyone whines about Connecticut being so expensive...
But they have NO toll roads at all. They took them out. That meant someone had to pay for all the expenses that the toll revenue covered. So that meant more state taxes. That's one of the many reasons taxes are so high in Connecticut. They also have better and more services, which is what the citizens there want.
If you want your car to not sink into a pothole, to drive over a bridge that doesn't plunge to the river below it, the trees on the side of the highway to not start creeping to the point where their roots are destroying the pavement and leaves creating a sliding hazard in the autumn rains, sewers and gutters and storm basins maintained, snow plows and employees who know how to use them getting overtime to make sure the 4 feet dumped on the road is gone before you have to drive to work in the morning at 6am..
All of these things get paid for with tolls. And in Connecticut, they get paid with taxes instead. Now granted, Florida doesn't get enough snow for anyone to really care about that. But it gets plenty of everything else. You can cough up the money when you drive on the road you expect to be maintained in good condition, OR they'll take it out of your retirement check in the form of state income tax. It's your choice, but you'll be paying one way or not.
At least with toll roads, it's not JUST citizens paying the price. It's anyone who drives on those roads. Tourists pay huge fees for the privilege of being tourists in Florida. They're sharing the burden with you. Not so in Connecticut. If you work in the state, or you live in the state, you're the one paying the fee.
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