Most New Yorkers prefer tax hikes to service cuts: Poll
New York City dwellers, by a majority of 49% to 35%, said they preferred that the city's budget be balanced with tax increases instead of service reductions, a new poll said on Friday.
March 19, 2011 / 12:52 IST
New York City dwellers, by a majority of 49% to 35%, said they preferred that the city's budget be balanced with tax increases instead of service reductions, a new poll said on Friday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a political independent, opposes proposals to extend the income-tax surcharge on millionaires to help close a nearly USD 5 billion deficit."Almost everywhere that people are polled about tax hikes versus service cuts, they prefer service cuts," Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement. "Except in relentless liberal New York City," he added.An even bigger majority of voters -- 89%-- agreed that the city's budget woes were "very serious" or "somewhat serious," according to the Quinnipiac poll of 1,115 voters.Bloomberg has ordered 10 rounds of budget cuts since 2007.His new USD $65 billion budget plan lays off nearly 5,000 teachers and reduces the fire and police forces to their lowest levels in decades. One of the mayor's most controversial recommendations -- laying off teachers based on job performance instead of seniority -- was approved of by 78% to 16% of the voters surveyed from March 8 to 14.But the poll, which had a margin of error of 2.9%, found that voters opposed laying off city workers by a majority of 67% to 27%. However, majorities backed wage freezes for public workers, reduced pension benefits for new hires and supported barring public workers from collecting pensions until they turn 65 years old.Wal-Mart's latest bid to open a New York City store was criticized at a February City Council hearing, but 57% to 36% of the voters surveyed said the retailer should be allowed to open stores in the city. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
