December 9, 2010 - 97 Percent Of New Yorkers Say State Budget In Bad Shape, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But Voters Oppose Layoffs, Cuts In School Aid Word format New York State's budget problems are "very serious," 78 percent of New York State voters say, while another 19 percent say they are "somewhat serious," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. The "very serious" label ranges from 75 percent in the New York City suburbs to 84 percent among voters with a union member in the household. Addressing the state budget should be the first priority of the New York State Legislature, 69 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, while 21 percent list ethics in government as the first priority and 3 percent list legislative redistricting. But voters say 46 - 38 percent that New York's new governor, Andrew Cuomo, and the State Legislature will not be able to solve the state's budget problems. By a 56 - 30 percent margin, voters would rather cut services than raise taxes to balance the state budget. Democrats favor higher taxes 44 - 39 percent, while support for service cuts is 75 - 13 percent among Republicans and 61 - 26 percent among independent voters. "We've got a big budget problem, New Yorkers tell Albany," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Offered three choices for the number one legislative priority - the budget, ethics or redistricting - a big majority pick the budget. "But New Yorkers are not too hopeful that state lawmakers and the new governor, Andrew Cuomo, will be able to solve the budget mess." New York State voters oppose 66 - 31 percent raising taxes to balance the state budget, with no support for tax hikes in any group. But voters say 82 - 13 percent that the state government will increase taxes. This overwhelming expectation of tax hikes is consistent among all groups. With 72 - 23 percent support, a wage freeze for state workers is the most popular option to help balance the state budget. Even Democrats support a wage freeze 72 - 25 percent. Voters with a union member in the household support a wage freeze 69 - 26 percent. Support for other options varies: 52 - 43 percent against layoffs for state workers; 56 - 32 percent in support of furloughs for state workers; 56 - 37 percent against reducing pension benefits for state workers; 78 - 19 percent against reducing state aid to public schools. "New Yorkers are not all that helpful about how to fix the fiscal problem. Cut school aid? Increase taxes? No and no, voters say," Carroll said. "They'd sooner cut unspecified services than raise taxes. But preferences aside, an overwhelming majority think Albany will boost their tax bills. "We don't want state workers to lose their jobs in these recessionary times. But we'd accept furloughs for state workers and we're solidly in favor of a wage freeze." From November 30 - December 6, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,646 New York State voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 4. Which issue would you like to see taken up first by the state legislature; the state budget, ethics in government, or redistricting? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds State Budget 69% 70% 66% 69% 71% 67% 69% Ethics in Gov 21 21 22 23 21 22 24 Redistricting 3 3 5 3 3 4 5 DK/NA 6 6 7 5 4 8 2 UpStat NYC Suburbs State Budget 70% 67% 71% Ethics in Gov 22 22 21 Redistricting 3 4 4 DK/NA 6 8 5 5. How serious do you think New York State's budget problems are, very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Very serious 78% 79% 76% 80% 80% 77% 84% Smwht serious 19 18 22 18 18 20 15 Not too serious 1 - 2 2 1 1 - Not at all serious 1 1 1 - 1 - - DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 UpStat NYC Suburbs Very serious 81% 78% 75% Smwht serious 17 19 24 Not too serious 1 2 1 Not at all serious 1 1 - DK/NA - 1 1 TREND: How serious do you think New York State's budget problems are - very serious,somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? (*Combined high also 96% Dec 2008 / **Combined low also 92% Dec 2002) VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Dec 09 Feb 04 Aug 18 Feb 18 Jan 15 Feb 04 Nov 06 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2010* 2003** Very serious 78 81 65 69 74 81 62 Smwht serious 19 15 28 26 21 15 30 Not too serious 1 3 5 4 2 3 5 Not at all serious 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6. Do you think Governor Cuomo and the legislature will be able to solve New York State's budget problems or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 38% 27% 48% 35% 34% 42% 36% No 46 61 34 49 53 40 50 DK/NA 16 12 18 15 13 18 14 UpStat NYC Suburbs Yes 35% 43% 34% No 51 39 49 DK/NA 14 17 16 7. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer; raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Raising taxes 30% 13% 44% 26% 26% 33% 28% Cutting services 56 75 39 61 64 48 60 DK/NA 15 12 18 12 10 19 12 UpStat NYC Suburbs Raising taxes 23% 39% 26% Cutting services 64 44 59 DK/NA 12 17 15 TREND: To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Dec 09 Feb 04 Aug 18 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24 Aug 06 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 Raising taxes 30 30 33 34 30 36 32 Cutting services 56 58 54 51 56 53 56 DK/NA 15 12 13 15 14 11 12 8. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs for state employees? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Support 43% 50% 34% 48% 51% 36% 35% Oppose 52 46 59 47 46 57 60 DK/NA 6 4 7 5 4 7 5 UpStat NYC Suburbs Support 49% 33% 47% Oppose 47 60 48 DK/NA 4 7 5 9. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - furloughs for state employees? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Support 56% 51% 57% 59% 60% 52% 49% Oppose 32 39 31 29 31 33 38 DK/NA 13 10 12 12 9 16 14 UpStat NYC Suburbs Support 54% 56% 58% Oppose 31 33 31 DK/NA 15 11 11 10. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - a wage freeze for state workers? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Support 72% 69% 72% 75% 73% 71% 69% Oppose 23 25 25 20 23 24 26 DK/NA 5 5 3 5 4 6 5 UpStat NYC Suburbs Support 75% 66% 76% Oppose 20 29 20 DK/NA 5 5 4 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose a wage freeze for state workers? Dec 09 Feb 04 Dec 16 2010 2010 2009 Support 72 75 68 Oppose 23 20 28 DK/NA 5 5 5 11. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - reducing pension benefits for state workers? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Support 37% 43% 31% 40% 41% 33% 28% Oppose 56 52 61 52 54 58 67 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 5 9 5 UpStat NYC Suburbs Support 37% 35% 40% Oppose 55 57 56 DK/NA 8 7 4 12. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - cutting state aid to public schools? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Support 19% 31% 11% 18% 20% 19% 18% Oppose 78 66 86 80 76 80 80 DK/NA 3 3 3 2 4 2 2 UpStat NYC Suburbs Support 20% 18% 20% Oppose 78 78 78 DK/NA 2 4 2 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose cutting state aid to public schools? Dec 09 Feb 04 2010 2010 Support 19 19 Oppose 78 78 DK/NA 3 2 13. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - increasing state taxes? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Support 31% 12% 44% 31% 31% 30% 33% Oppose 66 85 51 67 66 66 64 DK/NA 4 3 5 2 3 4 3 UpStat NYC Suburbs Support 20% 39% 35% Oppose 76 56 63 DK/NA 4 5 2 14. To help balance the state budget, do you think the state will increase taxes or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 82% 89% 77% 82% 84% 79% 84% No 13 7 17 13 12 14 13 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 4 7 3 UpStat NYC Suburbs Yes 84% 78% 85% No 12 15 11 DK/NA 4 7 4
