March 16, 2017 - More Money For Schools, Not So Much For Pensions, New Jersey Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Support For Millionaire's Tax Tops 3-1 PDF format Additional Trend Information Sample and Methodology detail New Jersey voters are solidly behind spending more money to improve the Garden State's public schools, but send mixed messages on the subject of funding public employee pensions, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. The State Legislature should spend more money to improve all of New Jersey's public schools, voters say 63 - 34 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. By a similar 65 - 32 percent, voters say the State Legislature should spend more to improve public schools in the state's poorest districts. Republicans oppose increased spending 59 - 40 percent and white men are divided 49 - 47 percent. Every other party, gender, racial, age and education group listed supports the spending by wide measures. Voters support 62 - 30 percent the State Supreme Court decision ordering the State Legislature to spend more money to improve public schools in the state's poorest districts. Again, Republicans oppose the court decision 59 - 30 percent and white men are divided 47 - 46 percent, while all other groups support the court decision. The state should provide poor school districts additional funds per student, 58 percent of New Jersey voters say, while 37 percent say all districts should get the same amount of funding. "New Jerseyans don't like taxes, but they do like school kids. Almost two-thirds want to spend more money for school kids - not just poor kids, but all kids," said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Was the State Supreme Court - much criticized by politicians for the Abbott decisions that give more of the state education money to poor schools - right? Yes, voters say." New Jersey voters support 74 - 22 percent, with Republicans divided 48 - 49 percent, a so-called "millionaire's tax," with the money going to public schools. By a similar 70 - 27 percent, voters support a "millionaire's tax" with the money going to public employee pensions. Republicans oppose this idea 55 - 42 percent. Voters oppose 66 - 30 percent an across-the-board tax hike to help fund public employee pensions. Democrats oppose this idea 56 - 41 percent, with every other listed group opposed. But in a different question, New Jersey voters say 49 - 45 percent that the state has an obligation to fix public employee pensions, even if it means raising taxes. Republicans oppose this idea 62 - 31 percent. Support is 61 - 33 percent among Democrats. Independent voters are divided, with 48 percent saying there is an obligation and 44 percent saying no. To help balance the state budget, state employees should pay more for health care, New Jersey voters say 60 - 31 percent, with support from every listed group. But voters oppose 52 - 41 percent reducing public employee pension benefits as a way to balance the budget. Republicans support pension cuts 64 - 30 percent, with Democrats opposed 68 - 24 percent. Independent voters are divided, with 45 percent supporting cuts and 47 percent opposed. "New Jerseyans' generosity shrinks - but it's still there - when it comes to pensions for state workers. Voters wouldn't cut pensions," Carroll said. "How about raising taxes to fix the pension system? It depends how the question is asked. "But there's one tax raising plan that almost everyone likes - the millionaire's tax. The Quinnipiac University Poll didn't ask what percentage of our respondents are millionaires." From March 9 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,098 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll. 13. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 2% 3% - 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% Smwht satisfied 34 38 36 31 34 34 33 33 Smwht dissatisfied 40 34 39 43 39 40 44 41 Very dissatisfied 24 24 25 23 24 25 22 24 DK/NA - - - - - - - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Very satisfied 3% - 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 2% Smwht satisfied 56 30 24 30 33 33 33 38 Smwht dissatisfied 21 47 47 42 44 42 43 34 Very dissatisfied 20 22 28 25 22 23 23 26 DK/NA - - - 1 1 - - - 18. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose more state employee contributions for health care? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 60% 67% 56% 58% 61% 58% 59% 66% Oppose 31 24 33 34 31 30 32 26 DK/NA 10 9 11 8 8 12 9 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Support 66% 53% 60% 62% 66% 59% 62% 55% Oppose 26 39 32 23 28 30 29 34 DK/NA 8 8 8 15 6 11 9 11 19. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose reducing pension benefits for new state workers? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 41% 64% 24% 45% 51% 32% 49% 49% Oppose 52 30 68 47 43 60 45 43 DK/NA 7 6 7 7 6 8 7 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Support 28% 40% 47% 45% 57% 42% 49% 26% Oppose 65 56 45 43 37 50 44 67 DK/NA 7 3 8 12 6 8 7 7 20. Do you believe the state of New Jersey has an obligation to fix public employee pensions, even if it means raising taxes, or don't you think so? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Obligation 49% 31% 61% 48% 51% 47% 52% 39% No 45 62 33 44 43 46 40 53 DK/NA 7 7 6 7 5 8 8 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes/Obligation 64% 52% 45% 43% 49% 44% 46% 54% No 32 43 48 49 45 47 46 42 DK/NA 4 5 7 8 6 10 8 4 21. Would you support or oppose raising taxes on people who earn more than one million dollars to help fund public employee pensions? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 70% 42% 91% 67% 63% 77% 66% 68% Oppose 27 55 7 29 34 21 31 30 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Support 73% 73% 66% 74% 60% 73% 67% 78% Oppose 24 26 31 24 38 24 31 19 DK/NA 4 1 3 3 2 3 2 3 22. Would you support or oppose raising taxes across the board to help fund public employee pensions? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 30% 19% 41% 27% 30% 30% 28% 29% Oppose 66 78 56 69 66 67 68 66 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 5 3 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Support 39% 34% 26% 26% 30% 28% 29% 33% Oppose 57 65 70 66 65 69 67 63 DK/NA 4 1 4 8 5 3 4 3 23. Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve the public schools in New Jersey's poorest areas or don't you think so? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 65% 40% 82% 59% 57% 72% 60% 55% No 32 59 15 37 40 26 37 42 DK/NA 3 1 3 4 4 2 3 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes 85% 65% 57% 60% 49% 64% 57% 79% No 15 33 39 36 47 33 39 19 DK/NA - 2 3 5 4 3 3 2 24. Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve all of New Jersey's public schools or don't you think so? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 63% 45% 77% 59% 56% 70% 58% 62% No 34 53 21 36 39 29 39 35 DK/NA 3 2 2 5 5 2 3 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes 74% 69% 56% 60% 57% 63% 60% 70% No 25 28 41 36 38 36 37 27 DK/NA 2 3 3 4 5 1 3 3 25. Do you think the state Supreme Court was right to order the state legislature to spend more money to improve the public schools in New Jersey's poorest areas or don't you think the state Supreme Court should have done this? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Right 62% 30% 84% 57% 54% 70% 55% 51% No/Shouldn't have 29 59 11 35 38 22 36 39 DK/NA 8 10 6 9 9 8 8 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes/Right 84% 66% 53% 53% 47% 59% 54% 78% No/Shouldn't have 11 29 38 36 46 30 37 15 DK/NA 5 4 8 10 8 10 9 7 26. Would you support or oppose the so called "millionaire's tax", if the money went to New Jersey's public schools? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 74% 48% 92% 72% 68% 79% 69% 68% Oppose 22 49 5 22 29 15 28 26 DK/NA 5 2 3 6 3 6 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Support 82% 80% 67% 71% 62% 74% 69% 84% Oppose 11 17 30 22 34 20 27 11 DK/NA 7 3 4 7 4 6 5 4 27. Do you think the state should provide every school district the same amount of funding per student, or do you think the state should continue to provide low income school districts with additional funding per student to make up for lower funding from property taxes? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Same funding 37% 60% 18% 43% 45% 30% 41% 44% Additional funds 58 32 79 52 49 66 55 48 DK/NA 5 8 3 5 6 5 4 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Same funding 20% 39% 44% 40% 49% 37% 42% 27% Additional funds 77 59 52 50 44 58 52 69 DK/NA 3 2 4 11 7 5 6 4 28. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Expansion 37% 63% 25% 35% 43% 31% 33% 37% No 55 29 69 56 51 59 59 57 DK/NA 8 7 6 9 6 9 7 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Yes/Expansion 30% 36% 40% 37% 43% 28% 35% 40% No 56 61 53 53 52 64 58 51 DK/NA 13 3 6 10 5 8 7 9
