The IRS mentions "general sales taxes", are they referring to the State's general tax rate, or the specific amount paid in my area?

Look at the receipts from places where you normally shop in your area.

Without knowing exactly where you are seeing this, it's difficult to answer. You get to deduct sales tax paid at the total rate you pay in your locality.

The IRS tables account for sales tax at the state tax level.  When you go through the section in TurboTax to deduct sales tax as an itemized deduction, you will be asked to enter the total sales tax rate for your area, which will include the state rate as well as any city or local sales tax you pay.

If this does not answer your question, please come back and post more info about where you see the term you are referring to.