KAET-ASU Poll

CONTACT: Dr. Bruce Merrill: (602)965-7051

KAET POLL:

VOTERS SUPPORT SALES TAX
TO FUND EDUCATION

Arizona voters support replacing the current system for school funding with a 3/4 cent sales tax according to a KAET Poll released today.

The poll was co-sponsored by KAET-TV and the Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunciations at Arizona State University.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of the registered voters surveyed favor replacing the secondary property tax with a three-quarter cent sales tax. Thirty-three percent (33%) were opposed and 19% were undecided. This secondary property tax is currently used to finance school construction and maintenance.

Voters were also asked if they were "for" or "against" replacing the property tax with the sales tax in which everyone coming to Arizona, not just property owners, would help pay into the system. Over half (61%) of Arizona voters supported replacing the property tax and 21% were against the use of a sales tax to fund education. Eighteen percent were undecided.

470 registered voters were surveyed by telephone statewide from June 19-23. Margin of error is plus or minus 4.5%.

"The Arizona Legislature is considering replacing the secondary property tax (which is currently being used to finance school construction and maintenance) with a 3/4 cent sales tax. In general do you: Favor or Oppose using the sales tax rather than the property tax to fund school construction?"

"The two main reasons for using the sales tax to fund education is that everyone who comes to Arizona, not just property owners, would help pay and it would make funding more equitable. Right now, the schools in wealthy areas have a lot of money while schools in poor areas are underfunded. After hearing these reasons, do you think you would: Vote For or Against replacing the property tax with the sales tax?"