Local taxes=Local services
I would gladly pay more local taxes than I do now if I could be assured that my money was being spent to fund my local services in an efficent manner.
What about municipalities that are in financial trouble or are just very poor? Detroit, Camden...even Philadelphia's EMS system is about 30 ambulances understaffed.
These areas, whether due to economically depressed conditions or financial mishandling by the government, are unable to provide effective emergency services to their citizens. Would it really require punishing taxes to try and support (but not supplant) the fire/EMS/Police forces of these areas? I don't really think so. SAFER grants are such a tiny drop in the bucket for the federal government budget it isn't even funny.