Cut government spending but leave my services alone
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Dana Yeganian
919 882 1950
A new survey by Capstrat-Public Policy Polling suggests state legislative candidates may have a difficult time satisfying the electorate in the coming election season. Voters responding to the poll demonstrate strong, yet contradictory viewpoints regarding state spending, taxation and the level of services provided by the state.
A majority of respondents say state spending is "too high" and favor cutting spending over either raising taxes or a combination of higher taxes and cuts. Yet a majority also thinks teacher salaries are too low and cutting education would negatively impact families.
A lack of understanding regarding the state budget may partly explain the differing attitudes. For example, while more than half1 of the state budget is directed toward educational needs, 40 percent of respondents believe education consumes "less than 25 percent" of the budget.
Respondents also significantly overestimate compensation paid to legislators. While a rank-and-file legislator receives an annual income of less than $14,0002, a plurality (40 percent) of survey respondents believes that legislators make "more than $50,000" a year.
"The lack of understanding about where most taxpayer money goes may ramp up passions about state spending," said Leslie Bevacqua Coman, executive vice president of public affairs at Capstrat. "This means that some elected officials may have a tougher time convincing their constituents of the importance of state programs and spending leading up to the November election. There is clearly a need to educate the public on the value of state programs that they had simply taken for granted when the state was flush with funds."
To view complete poll results, please go to http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/FinalResults.pdf.
About Public Policy Polling
Public Policy Polling has conducted regional and national surveys since 1991. The firm employs Interactive Voice Response or IVR methodology. Just as polling evolved from mail-in surveys and door-to-door interviewers to live telephone interviewers, the polling industry is evolving into automated telephone surveys (IVR) and internet polling. An analysis by the Wall Street Journal of swing state polls in the 2008 presidential campaign concluded that Public Policy Polling was among the two most accurate survey firms. Visit Public Policy Polling at http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/.
About Capstrat
Capstrat, a communications agency based in Raleigh, N.C., solves the complex issues that health care, technology, energy/infrastructure and financial organizations face at critical moments. We blend marketing communications, interactive communications, public relations and public affairs to tell stories with power and persuasion. Visit us at www.capstrat.com.
1 Office of State Management and Budget. http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/new_content/historical_budget_data.pdf
2 North Carolina General Assembly. Does not include per diem payments. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/ncgainfo/educational/funfacts/legpay.html
