Poll: Extra sales tax supported, but opposition rising

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A proposed extra percent of state sales tax continues to have more support than opposition, though neither side has a majority in newly released poll data.

Initiated Measure 15 is supported 44.2 to 37.8 percent, according to Nielson Brothers Polling, of Sioux Falls. In NBP’s Labor Day weekend poll, a similar percentage (43.7) of respondents supported the measure. However, opposition has risen by 6.1 percent since then, and undecided voters have dropped from 24.6 percent to 18 percent in this latest survey.

“Our Oct. 1-5 survey shows the numbers of supporters for Initiated Measure 15 holding steady, but opposition mounting across the political parties,” said Paul Nielson, president of Nielson Brothers Polling, in a news release. “Democrats continue to be the major proponents, but a majority of previously undecided voters are turning against the measure since Labor Day.”

The polling data was released Sunday. It sought to gauge voters’ opinion on three of the seven ballot questions.

Initiated Measure 15, if passed, would increase the state sales tax by 1 percent to bolster education and Medicaid, raising $175 million to $180 million annually, proponents claim.

Referred Law 14 has yet to catch on with voters, either for or against.

According to NBP, 32.4 percent said they will vote against it while 20.6 percent of respondents said they would vote for it. If passed, it would transfer 22 percent of the contractors’ excise tax from the state’s general fund to a Large Project Development Fund. Close to half of likely voters (47 percent) remain undecided, according to the poll.

Supporters for Referred Law 16— called HB 1234 before its referral — have a slight lead in a tight contest, as 34 percent of respondents say they will vote for this law, which would establish programs for teacher scholarships and bonuses, standardize teacher and principal evaluations and eliminate tenure requirements.

Meanwhile, 32.7 percent of respondents said they will vote against it, and a full third (33.3 percent) say they are undecided. Since NBP’s July survey, support for RL 16 has risen by four points and opposition has fallen by 5.4 points.

NBP said it surveyed a random selection of likely South Dakota voters Oct. 1-5. The number of responses ranged from 762 (with a 3.55 percent margin of error) to 679 (with a 3.76 percent margin of error).

Nielson Brothers will release a final poll before the Nov. 6 election, Nielson said.

Tags: election 2012, sales tax, news, updates, state, poll, education, healthcare