November 19, 2008 - Florida Voters Mixed On Their Economic Outlook; Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Say Finances Good, But Won't Get Better Word format Florida voters are surprisingly upbeat about their personal financial condition, as 56 percent say family finances are "excellent" or "good," and 43 percent say they are "not so good" or "poor," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But only 31 percent expect things to get better in the next year, while 21 percent say they will get worse and 44 percent say they will stay the same. And voters say 59 - 20 percent that they are worse off then they were a year ago, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Floridians say 58 - 30 percent that more cuts in local property taxes are needed, in part because local officials have failed reduce assessments to reflect the decline in property values. They think 73 - 22 percent the voting public, not the Legislature, should make the tax cuts. When it comes to the state budget, they want spending cut rather than taxes raised, but prefer those cuts on a case-by-case basis, not by an across-the-board percentage. A total of 47 percent of voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the state today, while 53 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied." "The housing meltdown hit Florida worse than most of the rest of the country and unemployment has risen there, yet voters aren't nearly as pessimistic about their situation or their prospects as in some other states," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Only 53 percent say they are somewhat or very dissatisfied with the way things are going in Florida today, while 47 percent are very or somewhat satisfied. That's pretty optimistic given the economy, stock market crash and predictions that the recession could be deep and long," said Brown. "There are higher levels of pessimism in other parts of the country." "A November 13 Quinnipiac University national poll showed a record high 82 percent level of dissatisfaction." While property values in Florida are dropping, local officials are too slow in reducing appraisals and property tax rates, 64 percent of voters say. Voters say 73 - 22 percent that they should cut property taxes through another referendum, rather than leave the job to the State Legislature. When it comes to the state budget, voters prefer 55 - 30 percent cutting services rather than raising taxes. By a 73 - 21 percent margin, voters prefer those cuts on a case-by-case basis, not by an across-the-board percentage. "Sixty-four percent say that local taxing officials are failing to keep up with the real estate market and are slower in reducing taxes in these hard times than they were raising them during the real estate bubble that raised them," said Brown. "Voters want tax cuts and by a 3 - 1 margin, they would rather do it themselves than trust elected officials. But if officials must do the cutting, they should use a scalpel, not an ax. Across the board cuts are not politically popular," said Brown. In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 49 percent of Florida voters cite the economy as the biggest problem facing the state today, followed by 8 percent who list taxes and 8 percent who list education. Of those who list the economy as their most important problem, 51 percent say Florida Gov. Charlie Crist can't do anything about it. From November 11 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,361 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. For the school financing questions, 1,014 voters were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 18. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very satisfied 7% 13% 3% 4% 7% 6% 9% Smwht satisfied 40 49 33 37 38 41 47 Smwht dissatisfied 33 25 37 37 34 31 26 Very dissatisfied 20 12 27 21 20 21 16 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Very satisfied 11% 10% 5% 8% 2% Smwht satisfied 46 32 42 42 39 Smwht dissatisfied 30 38 33 27 32 Very dissatisfied 12 20 19 23 26 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Nov 19 Sep 8 Jun 3 Apr 10 Oct 24 Sep 11 Jul 19 Dec 20 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 2006 Very satisfied 7 7 4 5 5 7 8 10 Smwht satisfied 40 39 35 32 42 40 45 41 Smwht dissatisfied 33 29 34 34 33 33 33 29 Very dissatisfied 20 2 24 26 28 18 13 9 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 19. What do you think is the most important problem facing Florida today? Tot Economy Total 50% Economy general 15 Unemployment/jobs 21 Housing market/Real estate values 4 Foreclosures/Mrtg crisis 4 Cost of living 2 Energy costs/Crisis 1 Business leaving/ Outsourcing 1 Stock market 1 Minimum wage too low 1 Taxes Total 8% Taxes general 3 Property tax 5 Education Total 8% Education general 4 Teachers 1 Funding education 3 Healthcare Total 3% Healthcare general 1 Healthcare/Costs/ Ins/HMO's 2 Budget Total 3% Budget general 1 Budget cuts/Cuts in services 1 Gov too big/Gov spending 1 Property Insurance 3% Politicians Total 3% Politicians/ Campaigns general 1 Political corruption 1 Politicians/ Campaigns other 1 Immigration 3% Crime Total 2% Crime/Violence general 2 Overcrowding/Over population 2% Energy crisis/Gas prices Total 2% Energy costs/Crisis general 1 Off shore drilling 1 Housing general 1% Senior issues 1% Drought/Water probs 1% Environment/Pollution 1% Mass Transit Total 1% Other 3% DK/NA 3% TREND: What do you think is the most important problem facing Florida today? Nov 19 Sep 11 Jul 19 Mar 29 Dec 20 Jun 29 2008 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 Budget/Spending Total 3% 1% - - - - Budget general 1 1 - - - - Budget deficits 1 - - - - - Government too big/Gov spending 1 - - - - - Crime Total 2% 5% 4% 3% 4% 5% Crime/Violence general 2 4 3 3 3 4 Drought/Water problems 1 1 1 1 1 1 Economy Total 50% 8% 7% 5% 6% 6% Economy general 15 2 2 1 2 1 Unemployment/jobs 21 3 2 3 2 2 Stock market 1 - - - - - Minimum wage too low 1 1 - - 1 1 Cost of living 2 2 3 1 1 2 Businesses leaving/Outsourcing 1 - - - - - Energy costs/Crisis 1 - - - - - Housing market/Real estate values 4 - - - - - Foreclosures/Mortgage crisis 4 - - - - - Education Total 8% 9% 9% 10% 15% 19% Education general 4 5 6 8 9 14 Teachers 1 - - - 1 1 Funding education 3 2 2 2 2 3 Environment/Pollution 1 3 3 2 2 3 Healthcare Total 2% 4% 7% 4% 2% 2% Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's 2 4 6 3 2 2 Home/Property Insurance 3% 15% 11% 15% 22 5 Housing Total 1% 3% 1% 1% 1% 1% Housing general 1 1 - - - - Immigration 3% 6% 8% 6% 9% 10% Overcrowding/Over population 2% 2% 3% 4% 4% 6% Politicians/Campaigns Total 3% 3% 2% 1% 1% 2% Politicians/Campaigns general 1 1 1 1 - - Political corruption 1 1 1 - - 1 Politicians/Campaigns other 1 - - - - - Senior issues 1 - 1 - 1 1 Taxes Total 8% 21% 22% 19% 9% 3% Taxes general 3 7 7 4 3 1 Property tax 5 14 15 15 6 2 Better mass trans/Public trans 1 - - 1 - - Other 3 2 1 10 7 6 DK/NA 3 6 4 6 4 5 20. (If response given q19) Is that something you think Governor Crist can do something about or do you think that is beyond a Governor's control? RESPONSE GIVEN Q19..................................... WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Gov'can do something 55% 51% 57% 54% 54% 55% 48% Beyond Gov's control 40 44 36 41 41 38 42 DK/NA 6 5 7 5 5 7 11 North/ MOST IMP PROB Q19.. PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Econ Taxes Educ Gov'can do something 52% 55% 58% 47% 55% 45% 61% 77% Beyond Gov's control 40 42 35 45 40 51 31 21 DK/NA 9 3 7 8 5 4 7 2 22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling property insurance? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 42% 52% 30% 46% 46% 39% 50% Disapprove 34 24 44 34 33 35 25 DK/NA 24 24 26 20 21 26 25 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 43% 41% 38% 50% 44% Disapprove 24 37 38 25 38 DK/NA 33 22 24 25 18 23. Do you think Governor Crist has been too friendly to the insurance companies, treated them about right, or not friendly enough. WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Too friendly 28% 20% 35% 29% 27% 28% 20% About right 40 48 32 42 43 38 48 Not friendly enough 8 9 8 6 7 8 5 DK/NA 24 24 25 23 22 26 27 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Too friendly 20% 34% 27% 22% 32% About right 48 40 35 43 39 Not friendly enough 6 6 10 7 8 DK/NA 26 20 28 28 22 24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling the economy? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 46% 61% 34% 45% 52% 41% 59% Disapprove 33 18 48 33 31 35 24 DK/NA 21 21 18 23 17 24 18 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 50% 53% 42% 50% 41% Disapprove 32 32 33 31 37 DK/NA 18 16 25 19 22 25. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Excellent 7% 12% 4% 5% 8% 6% 7% Good 49 52 44 51 53 45 50 Not so good 30 26 34 30 28 31 28 Poor 13 8 18 13 10 17 12 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 1 1 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Excellent 7% 6% 9% 4% 7% Good 53 49 43 48 51 Not so good 26 30 31 33 30 Poor 12 15 15 13 12 DK/NA 2 - 2 2 - 26. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Better off 20% 25% 19% 18% 21% 20% 23% Worse off 59 52 64 60 59 59 56 SAME(VOL) 20 22 17 21 19 20 20 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Better off 28% 24% 18% 8% 18% Worse off 55 56 59 72 60 SAME(VOL) 18 20 21 18 20 DK/NA - - 1 2 2 TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Nov 19 Dec 7 2008 2004 Better off 20 42 Worse off 59 34 SAME(VOL) 20 22 DK/NA 1 1 27. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Get better 31% 31% 34% 27% 29% 32% 25% Get worse 21 20 17 24 23 18 20 Stay the same 44 45 45 42 43 46 51 DK/NA 4 4 3 7 5 4 4 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Get better 35% 37% 26% 26% 27% Get worse 17 19 21 29 21 Stay the same 44 41 48 41 45 DK/NA 4 3 4 4 6 28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling the state budget? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 44% 59% 31% 44% 47% 41% 52% Disapprove 28 16 40 25 27 29 22 DK/NA 28 25 29 31 26 31 25 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 42% 53% 40% 47% 41% Disapprove 27 26 30 24 29 DK/NA 31 21 30 28 31 29. To balance the state budget next year, if you had to choose, which would you prefer - Raising taxes to keep state services at their current level or cutting state services to keep taxes at their current level? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Raising taxes 30% 17% 46% 27% 29% 32% 26% Cutting services 55 71 38 58 59 52 60 DK/NA 14 12 15 14 12 16 15 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Raising taxes 33% 30% 31% 23% 31% Cutting services 52 54 58 64 54 DK/NA 15 16 11 13 16 30. If state budget cuts are necessary, which would you prefer? That the state legislature - implement across-the-board spending cuts or that it makes specific cuts on a case-by-case basis? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Across-the-board 21% 23% 20% 19% 22% 19% 23% Case-by-case 73 71 73 75 73 73 70 DK/NA 7 6 7 6 5 8 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Across-the-board 21% 19% 20% 21% 22% Case-by-case 71 75 73 72 72 DK/NA 8 6 7 7 6 31. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling property taxes? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 47% 58% 34% 48% 50% 43% 56% Disapprove 36 26 47 33 37 34 28 DK/NA 18 16 19 18 12 23 16 North/ HOME PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE OWNERS Approve 53% 46% 44% 53% 43% 50% Disapprove 28 37 35 32 42 36 DK/NA 19 17 21 15 15 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Crist is handling property taxes? Nov 19 Oct 24 Sep 11 2008 2007 2007 Approve 47 45 39 Disapprove 36 39 46 DK/NA 18 16 15 32. Do you think that enough has been done to lower property taxes or do you think that larger property tax cuts are needed in Florida? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Enough has been done 30% 36% 26% 28% 32% 29% 34% Need larger tax cuts 58 54 60 59 56 59 57 DK/NA 12 10 13 13 12 12 9 North/ HOME PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE OWNERS Enough has been done 34% 29% 33% 33% 25% 33% Need larger tax cuts 52 58 52 60 66 56 DK/NA 14 13 14 7 8 11 33. Who do you think should decide the question of cutting property taxes - the state legislature or the voters through a referendum? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Legislature 22% 25% 22% 20% 27% 18% 21% Voters 73 72 73 75 69 77 75 DK/NA 4 4 5 5 3 5 4 North/ HOME PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE OWNERS Legislature 24% 23% 20% 28% 21% 24% Voters 73 73 74 70 74 72 DK/NA 3 4 6 2 5 5 34. Property values in Florida have dropped in the last two years. Do you think that property taxes reflect that drop, or do you think local taxing officials who set tax rates and appraisals are failing to keep up with the market? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Reflect drop 19% 18% 21% 17% 18% 19% 19% Failing to keep up 64 63 61 68 66 61 60 DK/NA 18 19 18 14 16 19 21 North/ HOME PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE OWNERS Reflect drop 19% 23% 19% 21% 14% 21% Failing to keep up 54 61 67 59 71 64 DK/NA 27 16 14 19 15 16
