Poll: Californians Oppose Easing Passage of New Taxes

The last hike was supposed to solve the problem

Just months after the passage of Proposition 30, a temporary tax measure on the state's wealthiest citizens, voters are reticent to lower the threshold by which future local tax measures could be approved, according to results of the latest USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences/Los Angeles Times Poll.

When asked if they were in favor of lowering the votes required to pass a parcel tax for school funding from two-thirds to 55 percent, 41 percent of voters said they were in favor and 49 percent were opposed.

"These results show that Gov. Brown's post-election 'proceed with caution' strategy is the correct one," said Dan Schnur, director of the poll and director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. "Voters feel they were told last fall that the passage of Proposition 30 would solve the state's fiscal problems so they're not in the mood to either pay higher taxes now or to make it easier to raise taxes in the future."

Comments

[Jesus H. Christ]

My fellow CA residents sure made it easy for the state legislature to raise taxes. Why get cold feet now?

[johnl]

They aren't reticent, they answered the poll, but are opposed to new taxes. Merrill Balassone's first sentence suggests that Californian's really want more taxes, but are afraid to say so.

[David R. Henderson]

Well played, johnl. I can't count the number of times I've heard or read people saying "reticent" when they mean "hesitant." Huge difference in meaning.