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Texans not fully aware of shortfall

Cougar News Services

The majority of Texans polled in a recent UH Center for Public Policy survey said they knew little or nothing about the stateis projected $10 billion budget shortfall.

CPP director and UH political science professor Richard Murray attributes the apparent apathy to bigger issues on the minds of most Americans -- including international concerns with the impending war on Iraq.

Moreover, Murray said, the effects of the shortfall arenit being immediately felt, delaying a widespread reaction.

The poll also inquired as to how the state should go about remedying the crisis.

About half said that spending should be cut, while 35 percent desired a state plan to cut some spending and raise fees and taxes. A meager 4 percent supported a stand-alone tax and fee hike plan to draw in revenue.

The study also addressed follow-up questions about the possibility that cuts will be made in several sectors.

Overwhelmingly, the participants of the study wanted to protect primary and secondary education funds -- 77 percent would not allow cuts. Seventeen percent would allow small cuts and 4 percent would permit big cuts.

Higher education saw slightly lower numbers in support, with 59 percent of respondents urging to protect college and university funding from major cuts. A third of respondents would allow small cuts; 6 percent would take more sweeping measures.

Another area protected by most Texans is health care -- 69 percent voted against any cuts whatsoever on the state coverage program.

Cuts were deemed permissible in the prison and transportation departments. Only one in four Texans polled wanted to preserve current prison funding. Nearly 30 percent were in favor of large cuts.

The state transportation budget, used to build and maintain roads and highways, fell under scrutiny by most of those polled. More than half agreed to small cuts to this area, and nearly 10 percent favored greater cuts.

Poll-takers also suggested laying off some state employees to lessen the burden on the budget. About 30 percent wanted to maintain state jobs as they are now.

In terms of tax hikes, the numbers speak for themselves.

Most Texans -- about 75 percent in the poll -- will accept a 50 cent tax hike on cigarettes. At the same time, the majority of Texans disapproved of a gasoline tax hike. More than half would allow an increase in the sales tax but would not allow extending the tax to cover food and other exempt items. 

Overall, a majority of Texans believe the state is headed in the right direction, although the actual percentage of support is down. In June, a similar study concluded that 63 percent of Texans had faith in the stateis direction; today, that number is 57 percent. Despite this, the study indicated that approval numbers for Gov. Rick Perry are up 2 percentage points from 50 percent in June.
 

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