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Orange County Tax Survey, 2008 <br />Preliminary Topline Report <br />14 February 2008 <br />S5. As you may know, there is a primary election scheduled for Tuesday, May 6th. How <br />likely are you to vote in the May 6th'primary? Would you say that you... (READ LIST; <br />SELECT ONE. DO NOT READ SKIP INSTRUCTIONS.) <br />1. Definitely will vote ...................................................................................... 268(68%) <br />2. Probably will vote .......................................................................................... 84(21%) <br />3. Might or might not vote .................................................................................45 (11%) <br />4. Probably will not vote, or [GO TO TERMINATE SCRIPT] <br />5. Definitely will not vote [GO TO TERMINATE SCRIPT] <br />Tax Proposals <br />Q1 INTRO. I'd like to ask you about a couple of tax proposals that may be placed on the May <br />6th primary election ballot. Neither would take effect unless they are approved by Orange <br />County voters at the May primary. <br />Q1. One proposal is to increase the sales tax on NON-food items by one-quarter of 1%. That is, <br />you would pay an extra 25 cents on a $100 purchase of NON-food items. There would be NO <br />sales tax increase on food. It's estimated that this tax would raise $3 million in the first full year, <br />and COULD keep property taxes below what they would be otherwise. If this were placed on <br />the ballot, how would you vote on a one-quarter of 1% increase in the sales tax on NON-food <br />items? (PROMPT IF NEEDED:) Would you vote "yes" or "no"? <br />[FOLLOW-UP FOR "NOT SURE"]: Q1A. Would you say you lean more toward voting <br />"yes," or toward voting "no," on the sales tax, or are you really not sure? <br />COMBINED RESPONSES: <br />1. Yes ................:. .............................................................................................182 (46%) <br />2. Lean Yes ......... ...............................................................................................17 (4%) <br />3. Really not sure ............................................................................................... 68(17%) <br />4. Lean No ........... ...............................................................................................17 (4%) <br />5. No ................... .............................................................................................110 (28%) <br />6. NA/Refused .... .................................................................................................3 (1%) <br />Q2. What would your reasons be for voting "no" on the sales tax? (DO NOT READ LIST; <br />SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) [Percentages are of 127 "No" and "Leaning No" responses] <br />1. Cost to taxpayers / Taxes are too high already ............................................... 51(40%) <br />2. Sales tax is regressive / Hits poorer families hardest .....................................19 (15%) <br />3. Don't believe the funds will be spent wisely ..................................................16 (13%) <br />4. General uncertainty of the economy/recession ................................................. 7 (6%) <br />5. Other verbatim responses to be coded and counted ................................. 44(35%) <br />[Note: More concerns about lower-income impact are set forth in the verbatims, to be counted.] <br />Prepared by Hertzog Research, LLC -2-