Poll: State government trusted less than federal

Most prefer new sources of revenue as fix for Connecticut’s budget

A new survey of 1,000 Connecticut residents has found that when asked about addressing the state budget crisis, respondents prefer creating new sources of tax revenue over raising existing taxes or making cuts.

The survey, from the Institute for Public Policy at Sacred Heart University and GreatBlue Research, found that 59.7 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat support creating new sources of revenue, while that figure is 32.8 percent for cutting funds to public programs and services, and 15.2 percent for raising existing taxes.

Another finding is that residents have greater confidence in the federal government, 34.4 percent, than the state's government, 25.8 percent.

“I wish we had had this probably six months ago, because it really would've given policymakers some guidance on the front end of the process,” commented economist Don Klepper-Smith, former chairman of the Governor's Economic Advisory Council.

The 56-question survey was conducted digitally and via the phone from Oct. 3 to 12. Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven counties yielded 74.4 percent of the partakers, while 7.8 percent of respondents hail from New London County. The survey, of residents ages 18 and up, had an even gender split.

The poll focused on quality of life in Connecticut, the state budget crisis, the state of the economy and local government relations.

Legislators have tentative plans to call for a budget vote in the Senate today and the House on Thursday, the Connecticut Mirror reported on Tuesday. They are trying to close a projected $3.5 billion deficit across the current and next fiscal year.

For alternative sources of revenue, the ideas in the poll with the most support are legalizing and taxing marijuana, and instituting tolls on highways. Sixty-two percent of respondents were strongly opposed to raising existing taxes.

Given 16 areas to cut and asked to pick three, respondents were most in favor of cutting spending for pension funding, closing a prison/correctional housing unit/reduction to inmate medical services, and eliminating property tax credits.

The least popular options to cut were health services, Medicaid/welfare/public assistance and public safety.

A clear majority of answerers agreed with the statement, “Connecticut towns should pool together more of their public services to cut costs, even if doing so means merging and consolidating town functions.”

The poll found greater optimism among those making less than $50,000 than among those making more than $150,000, with lower earners less likely to say that quality of life in Connecticut is declining or that they are considering moving out of the state within five years.

Among those with incomes above $150,000, about half, 49.1 percent, said they are considering leaving Connecticut within five years.

“Analysis indicates that public awareness and frustration over bipartisan bickering and the State's failure to reach reasonable compromises that might help reverse declining income and quality of life will lead to residents ‘voting with their feet' in the coming years,” Institute for Public Policy director Lesley DeNardis said in a Sacred Heart news story.

Nearly two-thirds of residents polled said it is difficult to maintain their standard of living, and the most common reason cited was increases in state taxes.

Reached for comment via phone, Klepper-Smith said, “I think this is needed perspective to help decision-makers to make policy decisions, so I think it's a very timely survey. I think it's money well spent, and I think it's a great public service.”

Klepper-Smith added that nothing in the findings really surprised him, and that he feels business confidence is at an all-time low.