> ...adding up to 10.75% total.

That's not too far off from the total sales tax in -say- one of the largest metros in Alabama; Birmingham. Total sales tax in that city is 8.0%. [0] I can tell you from personal experience, that you get a lot, lot less for that money than you do in California.

[0] <https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/tax-rates/?_ador-s...>