Buckeye Institute Poll: Policymakers Should Cut Spending, Not Raise Taxes

posted February 25, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Ohio Headed in “Wrong” Direction, Citizen Believe

Elected Officials Should Cut Spending to Solve Budget Problems

(Columbus, Ohio)—Ohio citizens believe the state is going in the wrong direction, and economic concerns trump other issues according to poll results released by The Buckeye Institute. The poll found strong supported among registered voters for an increased focus on cutting state spending, not raising taxes, to solve future budget woes.

“The economy remains the dominant issue for elected officials in Ohio,” observed Sam Staley, President of The Buckeye Institute and principal author of the report. “But Ohioans recognize that state’s approach to state spending and tax reform may be linked to future economic progress.”

The poll, conducted by the internationally recognized firm The Tarrance Group, found strong support for particular types of tax reforms, including shifting revenues to user fees and moving toward a flat income tax.  Among the poll’s other findings:

• 86 percent of Ohioans believe lawmakers should focus on spending restraint rather than increasing taxes to address future budget deficits;
• 73 percent of Ohioans understand that tax rates influence the decisions of wealthy families and businesses to stay or leave Ohio;
• 96 percent of Ohioans understand that state taxes influence the decisions of businesses to stay in Ohio;
• 78 percent of Ohioans would support a proposal to limit state spending to the inflation rate;
• 60 percent of Ohioans would support reforms that simplify Ohio’s income tax system by moving toward one rate for all taxpayers

 The poll is noteworthy because it is among the first polls publicly released aimed at understanding Ohio citizen attitudes about particular tax reforms and fiscal policy. “As our elected officials come to grips with Ohio’s ever pressing budget and tax reform issues,” Staley said, “the results of this poll will serve as an important benchmark.”

While the recession may have influenced some of the results, “Ohioans were specific about the nature of the problems faced by the State,” the report says. Ohioans ranked jobs, unemployment, and taxes among their top worries, not the stock market, foreign affairs, welfare, terrorism, or even health care.

The poll was conducted November 9-10, 2003 by The Tarrance Group. Partner Brian Tringali and Senior Research Analyst Brian Nienaber advised The Buckeye Institute on the design, implementation, and analysis of the poll results.

The report, “New Directons for Fiscal Policy in Ohio: Citizen Attitudes Toward Spending and Taxation,” is available through The Buckeye Institute’s web site, www.buckeyeinstitute.org, or by calling 614.224.4422.

# # #