The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A poll conducted by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy shows West Virginians might be at odds with state leaders as to how the state’s budget should be balanced.
The poll released Monday says 70 percent of West Virginians would be willing to pay more in taxes to maintain funding for public schools, police protection and roads, according to a release from the center.
A total of 603 registered voters were polled statewide, and the poll additionally showed voters largely placed the blame for the state’s budget woes on tax breaks for large corporations and the wealthy. The overall survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
The center is a private, left-leaning policy research organization based in Charleston.
In June, the West Virginia Legislature approved a budget for Fiscal Year 2017, which began July 1, that included an estimated $98 million in revenue from an increase in the state’s tobacco tax and a $70 million withdrawal from the state’s de facto savings account, the Rainy Day Fund, to close a $270 million budget gap. The approval of the tobacco tax increase came after considerable resistance among House members. And Republican leaders in the legislature have consistently been opposed to tax increases, instead saying they are focused on cutting expenses.
In October, just four months into Fiscal Year 2017, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced 2 percent across-the-board cuts due to revenue deficiencies.
During the interim legislative session earlier this month, Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss said the budget has significant structural holes that need to be addressed, saying legislators would have to patch an estimated $400 million hole in Fiscal Year 2018, which will begin July 1, 2017.
Last week, Gov.-elect Jim Justice said he wanted to balance the state’s budget without raising taxes or making any further cuts.
In the release about the poll, Ted Boettner, director of the center, said lawmakers should keep the results of the poll in mind when balancing the state’s budget for 2018.
“Given our ongoing budget crisis, it is imperative that lawmakers know where the citizens of West Virginia stand on paying for important priorities like schools and higher education for their families,” Boettner said.
The center used Anzalone Liszt Grove Research to conduct the phone survey to gauge public opinion and attitudes on West Virginia tax and budget issues, according to the release.
When asked whether they’d be willing or not willing to maintaining funding for public schools, public safety and gaining roads and bridges in the state, even if it meant raising their own taxes, 70 percent of polled voters were in favor and 26 percent were against, according to the release.
Broken down by party, 79 percent of self-identifying Democrats were in favor of raising taxes and 18 percent were against.
The poll showed 63 percent of self-identifying Republicans would be in favor of tax increases and 34 percent were against proposed increases.
A total of 69 percent of self-identifying independents were in favor of raising taxes, and 26 percent were against.
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