FDU PublicMind - April 15, 2005 Release

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.
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