Insider Poll: Most Georgians Don't Favor Local Option Sales Tax For Transportation

(3/21/08) Most Georgia apparently don’t want a sales tax hike to fund transportation improvements in their regions of the state. In fact, most don’t even want to vote on it. That’s according to a new poll conducted by InsiderAdvantage.

We asked, “Do you favor or oppose an amendment that would allow regions of the state to hold votes in those regions to increase the sales tax in those areas for transportation needs?

Favor (38%)
Oppose (48%)
No opinion (14%)

The poll was conducted March 18 by InsiderAdvantage / Majority Opinion. It sampled 407 Georgia voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5%. The data was weighted for age, race, gender and partisan affiliation.

Sentiment for and against the tax falls roughly along party lines. Democratic respondents favor such votes 48% to 40%, and Republicans oppose them 53% to 31%. Worst for proponents of new transportation infrastructure funding, independent voters oppose these referenda by 53% to 30%.

The same poll respondents amplified on their unwillingness for a new tax by sending a loud-and-clear message that they don’t know or much care what’s going on with the Georgia General Assembly this year.

We asked, “Are you aware of any specific bills in the state legislature that you are interested in or which you significantly support and can you name that legislation?”

Yes (20%)
No (80%)