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Poll Results: Most think taxes are too high
May 2, 2003

Nearly 60 percent of respondents said their tax burden is too high. (Mason-Dixon Polling and Research)

St. Paul, Minn. — The Mason-Dixon Minnesota Poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C. April 29 through May 1, 2003. A total of 625 registered Minnesota voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. All stated they regularly vote in state elections.

Those interviewed were selected by the random variation of the last four digits of telephone numbers. A cross-section of exchanges was utilized in order to ensure an accurate reflection of the state. Quotas were assigned to reflect voter turn-out by county.

The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than plus or minus 4 percentage points. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that the "true" figure would fall within that range if the entire population were sampled. The margin for error is higher for any subgroup, such as a regional or gender grouping.

QUESTION:In terms of the quality of life and quality of government services you receive, would you say that the taxes you currently pay in Minnesota are:

Option	State	Men	Women
Much too high	29%	33%	25%
A little too high	30%	29%	31%
About right	34%	31%	37%
Too low	5%	5%	5%

QUESTION:Do you feel the current Minnesota state budget deficit should be eliminated primarily through tax increases, or cuts in state spending?

Option	State	Men	Women
Tax increases	22%	21%	23%
Spending cuts	50%	52%	48%
Combination	23%	24%	22%
Not sure	5%	3%	7%

QUESTION: Based on what you know, which one of the following statements best reflects your view of how Gov. Pawlenty is dealing with the state's budget problems?

Option	Percentage
He's cutting spending too much and should consider raising some taxes.	28%
He's cutting spending the right amount but he's cutting the wrong things.	34%
He's about right in both the amount of spending cuts and his priorities.	30%
Not sure	8%

QUESTION: Here are three proposals to solve the state's $4.2 billion budget deficit. Which one of these do you support the most:

Option	Percentage
Gov. Pawlenty has proposed solving the deficit mostly through reductions in spending, plus some fee increases.	14%
The House Republican majority supports most of Pawlenty's budget plan, but wants to use $100 million from a state-operated casino to cushion some cuts in spending for cities, higher education and nursing homes.	41%
The Senate DFL majority wants to use more than $1 billion from a cigarette tax increase, an income tax increase on individuals earning over $135,000 and families earning over $250,000 and an elimination of some tax breaks for businesses to cushion spending cuts.	38%
Not sure	7%

QUESTION: The state’s $1 billion tobacco settlement fund is currently used to pay for tobacco prevention programs and services. Do you support or oppose transferring this money into the general fund and using it to fund other things?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support	57%	59%	55%
Oppose	33%	30%	35%
Undecided	10%	11%	10%

QUESTION: Here is a list of several possible spending cuts that state officials are considering to help solve the budget deficit. Do you support making that cut, or would you prefer to pay higher taxes to avoid the cut?

- Cut $756 million from aid to local governments, which currently helps pay for local services and keeps property taxes lower?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support the cut	50%	54%	46%
Pay tax to avoid	39%	34%	44%
Not sure	11%	12%	10%

- Cut $254 million from higher education, which could result in higher tuition for students at public colleges and universities?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support the cut	44%	54%	34%
Pay tax to avoid	49%	40%	58%
Not sure	7%	6%	8%

- Cut $60 million from child care programs, which would eliminate subsidies for 1,100 families and raise out-of-pocket expenses for others?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support the cut	36%	46%	26%
Pay tax to avoid	51%	41%	61%
Not sure	13%	13%	13%

- Cut $55 million from home and community-based services for the disabled?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support the cut	29%	35%	23%
Pay tax to avoid	63%	59%	67%
Not sure	8%	6%	10%

- Cut $22 million from the Metropolitan Council's transit budget, which could result in higher bus fares and reduced bus routes?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support the cut	66%	69%	63%
Pay tax to avoid	28%	28%	28%
Not sure	6%	3%	9%

QUESTION: To help solve the state's deficit, do you support or oppose having the state operate a casino at the Canterbury Downs race track?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support	70%	74%	67%
Oppose	24%	22%	26%
Undecided	6%	4%	7%

QUESTION: To help solve the state's deficit, do you support or oppose raising income taxes on those individuals earning more than $135,000 and families earning over $250,000 a year?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support	77%	72%	82%
Oppose	20%	25%	15%
Undecided	3%	3%	3%

QUESTION: To help solve the state's deficit, do you support or oppose raising the cigarette tax $1 per pack?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support	67%	63%	71%
Oppose	30%	35%	25%
Undecided	3%	2%	4%

QUESTION: To help solve the state's deficit, do you support or oppose extending the sales tax to goods and services, like clothing and attorney's fees, which are currently tax-exempt?

Option	State	Men	Women
Support	30%	27%	33%
Oppose	63%	66%	60%
Undecided	7%	7%	7%

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