Another thing for state governments to worry about: people not buying cars. According to the Los Angeles Times:

As the U.S. auto market marches toward its worst year in decades and dealers close in droves, state and local governments across the country are preparing for serious belt-tightening.

Sales of new and used cars, as well as parts and service, are the single largest source of sales tax revenue for almost every state, county and local government, ahead of gasoline sales, restaurants and department stores. (Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon and Montana do not collect sales tax.)

The most recent collection report from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue shows that the state has taken in $178 million in auto sales taxes so far this year (actually, as of Nov. 8). That’s a shortfall of $23 million (or 11.4 percent) compared with the same period last year.