The difference between paying $9000 to Sacramento and $1000 to LA or paying $5000 to Sacramento and $5000 to LA. In the latter system, the local government get

The difference between paying $9000 to Sacramento and $1000 to LA or paying $5000 to Sacramento and $5000 to LA. In the latter system, the local government gets direct control over the spending, as opposed to needing to lobby the state government for funds for road improvements, schools, etc. For instance, in California, the majority of K-12 funding comes from Sacramento. In most of the rest of the country, the majority of K-12 funding comes from local, largely property, taxes-- exceptions being low-performing schools targeted for improvement with state funds.