Tables

 

Question: Now I’d like to ask you a few questions about the New Jersey State budget.  How much have you heard or read about the Acting Governor’s proposed state budget for the coming year?
  All NJ headed in right direction NJ off on wrong track
Nothing at all 33% 41 27
Only a little 38% 34 40
Some 21% 19 24
A great deal   6%   4   8
Don’t know/ref.   2%   1   2

Question: The budget proposal this year calls for not increasing overall spending. From what you’ve read or heard, do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
  All Dem. Ind. Rep.
Good 76% 73 78 78
Bad 12% 14   8 11
Unsure (vol) 12% 13 14 11

Question: The state budget proposes how to raise money as well as how much to spend. In order to raise money a number of proposals have been discussed.  For each of these proposals, can you tell me whether you think it’s a good idea or a bad idea?
[Rotate list] All Dem. Ind. Rep.
Reduce property tax rebates for Senior Citizens from $1200 to $800.        
  Good idea 31% 30 33 30
  Bad idea 66% 68 60 67
  Unsure/ref.   3%   2   7   3
Suspend property tax rebates for homeowners        
  Good idea 31% 33 30 30
  Bad idea 64% 63 66 66
  Unsure/ref.   5%   4   4   5
Raise income taxes on homeowners who make over $200,000 a year by not allowing them to deduct their property taxes on their state income tax return.        
  Good idea 47% 56 43 38
  Bad idea 48% 40 46 59
  Unsure/ref.   5%   4 11   3
Keep the sales tax the same but extend it to other things like some professional services.        
  Good idea 45% 50 38 43
  Bad idea 49% 46 51 52
  Unsure/ref.   6%    5 10   5
Increase the inheritance tax on the wealthy.        
  Good idea 60% 76 54 44
  Bad idea 34% 20 35 50
  Unsure/ref.  6%   4 10   6
Collect a new tax (of 2% on gross sales) from cable television companies.        
  Good idea 44% 47 36 44
  Bad idea 52% 49 58 52
  Unsure/ref.   4%   4   6   4
Increase the transfer tax on houses sold for over $150,000? One year ago:All        
  Good idea 17% 23% 25 27 20
  Bad idea 72% 69% 66 60 76
  Unsure/ref. 11%   8%   9 13   4

Question:  In order to close the budget deficit, a number of proposals to hold back spending have also been discussed. For each of these proposals, tell me whether you think it’s is good idea, a bad idea…
[Rotate list] All Dem. Ind. Rep.
Don’t increase state aid to cities and municipalities          
  Good idea 39% 31 45 45
  Bad idea 54% 61 46 48
  Unsure/ref.   8%   8 10   6
Don’t increase state aid to public education        
  Good idea 20% 13 26 25
  Bad idea 76% 83 69 71
  Unsure/ref.   4%   4   5   4
Cut out special grants to cities and municipalities        
  Good idea 38% 31 47 44
  Bad idea 46% 56 36 40
  Unsure/ref. 15% 14 17 16
Eliminate 500 state jobs.        
  Good idea 46% 36 46 56
  Bad idea 44% 54 39 37
  Unsure/ref.   9%   9 14   7
Don’t increase retirement benefits for public employees        
  Good idea 49% 41 55 56
  Bad idea 46% 54 37 40
  Unsure/ref.   5%   5   8   4
Suspend property tax rebates for homeowners        
  Good idea 27% 29 29 26
  Bad idea 67% 65 62 71
  Unsure/ref.  6%   6   8   4
Don’t increase state aid to Colleges and Universities        
  Good idea 30% 22 32 39
  Bad idea 65% 73 63 57
  Unsure/ref.   5%   5   4   4

Now in order to balance the budget, some people say….  Others say to balance the budget…. Which position comes closest to your view?

[Rotate list]

All

Dem

Ind

Rep

NJ is headed in right direction

NJ is off on the wrong track

… the state should hold the line on spending even if programs are reduced

63%

51

62

76

56

68

the state should raise taxes if necessary and continue to support state programs

26%

37

22

16

32

21

Neither (vol)

 4%

4

5

3

4

  4

Both (vol)

 2%

2

2

1

3

  1

Don’t know (vol)

 6%

5

8

4

5

  6


Question: Now, thinking about spending in the state budget, who or what do you think is most responsible for driving up state spending over the years?
[ROTATE LIST] All Dem. Ind. Rep.
Public education  4% 3  7  4
Roads and highways  3% 3  2  3
Local government  5% 6  3  5
Salaries and health care costs for public employees  9% 9  7  9
Fraud, waste, and abuse 37% 35 35 39
Politicians who just want to spend 31% 27 36 32
Just normal growth  7% 9  5  5
None of above (vol)  1% 2  2 --
Don’t know  (vol)  4% 5  3  2

Question: Now, thinking about taxes, who or what do you think is most responsible for driving up state taxes over the years?
[ROTATE LIST] All Dem. Ind. Rep.
Public education 6 6 6 6
Roads and highways 3 4 1 3
Local government 7 6 9 7
Salaries and health care costs for public employees 9 8 9 10
Fraud, waste, and abuse 31 27 32 35
Politicians who just want to spend 29 29 34 28
Just normal growth 9 12 4 7
None of above (vol) 1 2 -- 1
Don’t know  (vol) 5 6 6 4

Question: Now, thinking about property taxes… Do you expect property taxes where you live to increase this year, decrease, or stay about the same?... a little or a lot?
[rotate] All Dem. Ind. Rep. One Year Ago
Increase a lot 39 33 46 42 34%
Increase a little 39 41 32 39 40%
Stay same 16 17 15 15 17%
Decrease a little   2  2 2 1   2%
Decrease a lot   1 1 1 1   2%
Don’t know (vol)   4 6 4 2   5%

Question:  The state rebates money to some homeowners in order to even out the property tax burden. Now some people say that if the state rebates less money this year…. Others say if the state rebates less money this year…. Which comes closer to your view?
[rotate] All Conservatives Moderates Liberal
that’s the same as raising taxes. 49% 55 44 44
that’s because the state is cutting its spending 41% 37 44 45
Don’t know (vol) 10%   7 11 10
Ref. (vol)   1%   1   1   1

Question: Taking everything into account, do you think the budget Gov. Codey has proposed is good for New Jersey or bad for New Jersey?
  All Dem. Ind. Rep. One Year Ago
Good 33% 36 35 31 25%
Bad 25% 20 24 32 35%
Unsure (vol) 42% 44 40 38 38%
Ref. (vol) -- --   1 --   2%

Contacts:
Rick Thigpen, academic associate, 609-394-0888.
Steve Salmore, research professor of political science: 973-292-3633.
Peter Woolley, coordinator: 973-443-8725

Radio actuality line: (201) 692-2846.

For more information, please call (201) 692-7032.

see also:

Survey Analysis
Salmore's Analysis
Thigpen's Analysis
Survey Details

Copyright © 2005, Fairleigh Dickinson University. All rights reserved. FDU PublicMind Poll [Latest update 050415]