Public Opinion Poll

Seventy percent of Californians believe they are paying too much in state and local taxes, compared with 4 percent who say they are paying less than they should, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released February 2.

Proposition 13 continues to be overwhelmingly popular, with 64 percent of likely voters agreeing that the 1978 property tax reform measure “turned out to be mostly a good thing for California,” according to a poll released May 26 by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). “Proposition 13 is the 1978 ballot measure that limits the property tax rate to 1 percent of assessed value at time of purchase and annual tax increases to no more than 2 percent until…

Almost two-thirds of California voters believe their state and federal income taxes are too high, according to a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released April 15. This marked a 10 percentage-point increase since 2016, the last time a comparable question was asked by the pollster. Latinos in the 40-49 age group were the most likely to say their income taxes are excessive, the poll found. The pollster asked registered voters: “Are the federal and state income taxes that you…

Asked about their combined state and local tax burden, 62 percent of California adults said they are paying more than they think they should, and 3 percent said they think they are undertaxed, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released March 24. The poll found that while 51 percent of Californians support “higher taxes and more services” (compared to 44 percent who support “lower taxes and fewer services”), the level of taxation has gone beyond the level…

More than one in five Californians are seriously considering moving to another state because of the lack of well-paying jobs here, according to a poll released November 9 by the Public Policy Institute of California. “Does the lack of well-paying jobs make you and your family seriously consider moving away from the part of California you live in now?” the pollster asked. Those who answered “yes” were asked whether they are considering moving elsewhere in California or outside the state.…

When asked if tax increases should have been included in the governor’s budget plan, just 34 percent of likely voters said they should have been included, while 60 percent said they should not have been included, according to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll released June 4. Opposition to taxes was expressed across regions of the state, ages, education levels, income levels, and racial/ethnic groups, the PPIC found. Democrats (43 percent) are more likely than independents (29 percent)…

Among Californians of all political stripes, 58 percent believe state and local taxes are too high, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) reported February 26. “Despite the spectrum of people and lifestyles across California, there are some issues where opinion is roughly similar everywhere,” PPIC said. “Many of these issues touch on the general role of government: its size and scope. At least a majority – but never more than two-thirds – in every place in the state believes…