Rasmussen: Voters expect higher taxes, not spending cuts

Rasmussen reports...

Most Expect State or Local Tax Hikes In the Next Year
Thursday, October 21, 2010

     A sizable majority of Americans say their states are now having major budget problems, and they think spending cuts, not higher taxes, are the solution. But most expect their taxes to be raised in the next year anyway.

     A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 78% of Americans say their home state is having a budget crisis. That’s a 19-point increase from July 2009. Only 10% say their state is not having serious budget problems, but 12% aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).
Seventy-one percent (71%) say the budget situation in their state is worse than it was a year ago. Just 11% say the situation is better, while 12% rate it about the same.
     Most Americans expect the worst. Seventy-eight percent (78%) say it is at least somewhat likely that their state or local taxes will be raised in the next year because of budget problems. That includes 53% who say it is Very Likely. Just 12% say it’s not very or not at all likely.
     Yet 77% think, generally speaking, that when a state has budget problems, it is better to cut spending than to raise taxes. Twelve percent (12%) say it’s better to raise taxes. Those views are unchanged from last year’s survey.
     Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters nationwide already think America is overtaxed.
     The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 19-20, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.
     Some state legislatures to avoid voter anger over tax increases have resorted instead to raising less noticeable fines, fees and tolls. But most adults don’t think that’s a good idea either. Seventy-one percent (71%) say, generally speaking, that when a state has budget problems, it’s better to cut spending than to raise fines and fees. Twenty percent (20%) say it’s better to raise fines and fees instead.
     Republicans and adults not affiliated with either major party think state or local tax hikes are more likely over the next year than Democrats do.
     Democrats are also more supportive of tax increases and raising fines and fees.
But large majorities across all demographic categories think cutting spending is the better alternative to state budget problems.
     Most Americans would not pay higher taxes for specific public services in their states, but they are more supportive of paying for education and staffing law enforcement than supporting state employees and entitlement programs.
     Polling has consistently shown that Likely Voters nationwide prefer a government that provides fewer services and imposes lower taxes to one with more services and higher taxes.
     Voters will elect governors in 37 states this November. The Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard shows Democrats solidly ahead in two states, with four more leaning their way. Republicans are running strongly in 16 states, and six more are leaning GOP. Nine states are considered Toss-Ups.