ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607270004
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
Virginia Tech's Center for Survey Research polled 1,168 adult Virginians between April 21-May 22. The margin of error is 2.9 percent. Numbers may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
Highlights biggest differences between certain groups.
Virginians are sharply divided on the subject of taxes - even, maybe especially, taxes tied to education.
Even though most Virginians - 54 percent - said the state doesn't spend enough on public schools, they're not as sure we ought to raise taxes to find those funds, at least if we're talking about income taxes. Asked about whether they'd back raising state income taxes for public schools, 49% said yes, and 48% said no. That's a statistical dead heat.
State income taxes should be increased to support more funding for public schools in Virginia.
Strongly agree 17%
Somewhat agree 32%
Somewhat disagree 21%
Strongly disagree 27%
Don't know 3%
But taxes for colleges were slightly more popular. A slim majority - 51% - said they'd back an income tax hike if the money went to the state's college and universities; 46% said no.
State income taxes should be increased to support more funding for public higher education - colleges and universities - in Virginia.
Strongly agree 18%
Somewhat agree 33%
Somewhat disagree 22%
Strongly disagree 24%
Don't know 2%
Support for, and opposition to, tax hikes were virtually identical among Virginians living in the urban crescent and those in the rest of the state.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB