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New CA Statewide Poll Results
New Poll Conducted for PACE/USC Rossier School of Education by Tulchin Research and M4 Strategies on Prop. 30 (Governor’s Tax Initiative), Prop. 38 (Munger Measure) and Other Education Issues
A majority of Californians favor enacting Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s ballot initiative that would raise taxes in order to avoid further spending reductions in education and public safety, according to results from a new PACE/USC Rossier School of Education Poll released Wednesday.
The PACE/USC Rossier Poll found 55 percent of Californians are in support of Proposition 30, and 36 percent oppose it. The proposition would raise the state sales tax by a quarter-cent for four years and taxes on incomes of more than $250,000 for seven years to fund schools and public safety.
The poll showed the other tax measure to fund schools and early childhood education, Proposition 38, was losing, with 40 percent of Californians in support and nearly 49 percent opposed.
When asked where they would spend the money if either proposition passed, Californians said they would direct funds to restore previous education budget cuts and to prevent further cuts, reflecting low expectations for a state system that has been subject to repeated funding cuts in recent years.
If the tax initiatives fail and further education cuts need to be made, Californians said they would first choose to cut transportation of students to school (33%), increase class sizes (32%) or shorten the school year (31%) over cutting extracurricular sports and music programs (23%) or reducing teacher salaries (17%).
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Download the PACE/USC Rossier Online Poll Memo here.
Download the PACE/USC Online Poll Toplines and Crosstabs here.
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Press coverage of our new California poll:
LA Times: “Voters back Gov. Brown tax measure in USC poll”
San Francisco Chronicle: “Gov. Brown’s tax measure ahead in poll, but trouble looms”
SI&A Cabinet Report: “Poll shows voter uncertainty over online learning, career tech”
EdSource: “Brown struggling to sell Prop 30 to wary voters”
The poll was also covered by KPCC-FM, KQED-FM, LA Observed, Ventura County Star, CBS News San Francisco affiliate KPIX-TV and ABC News Sacramento, Calif., affiliate KXTV-TV.