KAET-ASU Poll

Friday January 31, 1997

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

KAET POLL:

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOUND
TO EQUALIZE EDUCATIONAL SPENDING
ARIZONA VOTERS WOULD FOREGO
A TAX CUT TO FIX EDUCATION

In a poll co-sponsored by KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University 84% of all registered voters in Arizona said they feel funding for public schools should be the same for each child regardless of the school district where they live. Ten percent (10%) felt funding should stay tied to individual districts and 6% said they didn't have an opinion on the issue.

In response to another question, two-thirds (67%) of all Arizona voters said they would be willing to forego a tax cut if the funds would be used to solve Arizona's educational problems. Twenty-five percent (25%) of those interviewed preferred to receive the tax cut and 8% had no opinion. According to Dr. Bruce Merrill, Professor of Mass Communication at Arizona State University who conducted the poll, " When ninety percent of all registered voters in Arizona with an opinion support equalization of funding and when seventy-five percent feel so strongly about solving our educational problems they are willing to give up the tax cut the Governor is suggesting, it is almost beyond belief the legislature does not act on this issue. It is seldom we see the people speak in such an overwhelming manner".

The survey conducted between January 22 and January 26, 1997 interviewed 431 registered voters who live in Arizona. Forty-three percent (43%) of those interviewed were registered Republicans. Forty-two percent were Democrats and 15% were registered as "independents" or "others". The sampling error for the survey when the proportion giving a dichotomous response is 50% and assuming the 95% level of significance is plus or minus 4.7%.

Q: Our public schools are financed by property tax assessments. The average amount spent on each student is higher where property values are high and lower than the average where property taxes are low. Lisa Keegan, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, is proposing that the total property tax revenues should be divided by the number of school children. Under this plan,each child would receive the same amount regardless of where they live. Do you think school funding should be based on property values in each individual school district or do you think funding should be the same for each child regardless of where they live?

Q: Governor Symington and the legislature is proposing a $100 million dollar tax cut this year. A person earning about $50,000 would save about $125 per year. Some people feel instead of a tax cut the government should use the money to solve Arizona's education problems. Would you prefer to keep the tax cut or would you prefer to use the money to solve educational problems in Arizona?

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