Elway Poll: Voters might support some tax hikes
Washington voters might be willing to approve higher taxes for some public projects, a new survey by The Elway Poll suggests.
Asked whether they would support or oppose a tax increase for seven different things local governments spend money on, a majority of the 501 voters surveyed to six of them.
75 percent would support tax increase for fire
74 percent for roads
73 percent for schools
64 percent for libraries
61 percent for parks and recreation
60 percent for public transportation.
Only 39 percent said they's support higher taxes for jails.
Elway pollsters were quick to point out that voters were differentiated between the different services, and on average only support tax increases for four of the seven. And, they said, "it's easier to tell a pollster you favor a tax increase than it is to raise your own taxes." So local governments should be careful about loading up a ballot with a pile of tax plans.
