Final answer:
The statement is true; colonists were willing to accept taxes but wanted control over the subsequent expenditure, aligning with concepts of taxation and representation in governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the colonists did not necessarily object to the principle of taxation, but rather to how the tax money would be applied is true. During the time leading up to the American Revolution, colonists were particularly aggravated by taxation without representation, meaning they were subject to taxes imposed by a Parliament in which they had no elected representatives. The colonists were willing to pay taxes, but they wanted a say in how their tax money was used. This sentiment ties into the broader universal generalizations about state and local governments needing to approve spending before revenue can be released, the important role of budgets in supplying money for services and programs, and the use of taxes to pay for various services.