This survey – the first in a series of special surveys on the California state budget, conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation – is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system.
Some findings of the current survey
- Nearly all Californians (94%) say that the state’s budget deficit is a big problem (73%) or somewhat of a problem (21%).
- Most Californians are opposed to spending cuts in public programs as well as to increases in taxes or fees.
- Only 34% of all adults say that they trust the government in Sacramento to do what is right just about always or most of the time.
- 75% of likely voters disapprove of the way Governor Davis is handling his job, and 57% of the state’s residents disapprove of the way the legislature is handling budget issues.
- Nearly six in 10 respondents believe that the better way to improve the national economy is to reduce the deficit rather than cut tax (58% to 34%).