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Thursday, July 31, 2003

By Jane Elizabeth, Post-Gazette Education Writer

Pennsylvanians are divided almost evenly on whether the state's personal income tax should be increased as a way to reduce local property taxes, according to the results of a statewide poll released yesterday.

Forty-five percent of the 600 state residents surveyed randomly by Madonna Young Opinion Research said they either "strongly favored" or "somewhat favored" the income tax increase in exchange for lower property taxes.

Forty-six percent said they were either "strongly opposed" or "somewhat opposed" to the idea; 9 percent said they didn't know.

The poll was conducted for Good Schools Pennsylvania, a statewide school advocacy group that supports an equitable distribution of resources for school districts.

The telephone survey was conducted between July 23 and July 26, in the midst of a battle over Gov. Ed Rendell's budget proposals that encompass another type of legalized gambling, property tax reform and new education programs for school districts.

His plan calls for revenues from expanded gambling to fuel school property tax reform. The legislation -- and therefore the state budget -- is at an impasse.

Pennsylvanians responding to the survey overwhelmingly favored allowing slot machines as a way to raise revenue and reduce property taxes.

Fifty percent of respondents "strongly favored" the idea; 17 percent "somewhat favored."

Twenty-four percent "strongly opposed" the idea; 6 percent "somewhat opposed"; 3 percent said they didn't know.

Similarly, a majority of respondents -- 66 percent -- said they would be either "much more likely" or "somewhat more likely" to vote to re-elect a state legislator who supported slot machines to raise money for school property tax cuts.

Fifty-seven percent also said they would be either "much more likely" or "somewhat more likely" to vote for a legislator who supported an increase in the state personal income tax to pay for public school improvements such as full-day kindergarten and tutoring.

Thirty-nine percent responded either "somewhat less likely" or "much less likely" to that question; 5 percent said they didn't know.

Jane Elizabeth can be reached at jelizabeth@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1510.