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October 2004
Majority Support for Tax Modernization when Full Package is Presented
“We're batting 5 for 5 now,” states TFT Board Chair Chris Daly of Chattanooga after seeing the new poll released by MTSU last week. “Of the last five polls conducted by MTSU, all five over the last two-and-a-half years show support for state tax reform in the 60% range. Clearly, this is no fluke. This support is the real deal.”
The Survey Group at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has
been asking the same basic question of voters across the state in six consecutive
polls since early 2002. The polls are conducted every six months in spring and
fall of each year. Shortly after the one-cent sales tax hike took effect in
2002, support for tax reform, including a state income tax, repeal of the food
tax, and cuts in the sales tax, jumped up from 46% in spring 2002 to 58% in
fall 2002.
TFT's Legislative Liaison Dick Williams of Nashville adds, "Unlike many polls that ask the simplistic question about support for an income tax by itself, the MTSU poll asks the far more relevant question about real legislative proposals that have actually been on the table: reducing all sales tax and eliminating sales tax on food combined with a state income tax."
Ever since the sales tax hike took effect, support for real tax
reform has stayed in the 60% range according to the polls with the most recent
MTSU poll shows support for tax reform is 59%. Even more notable, opposition
to an income tax when coupled with repeal of the food tax and reduction of the
sales tax is only 29%!
“When we're out there talking to people in groups, I'm seeing the same positive response to tax reform proposals as shown in the results of the MTSU polls,” states Diantha Paré of Oak Ridge. “I'm one of the TFT workshop facilitators presenting information to a variety of local groups about tax reform as an alternative to our present unfair system.” Collectively, these 30+ facilitators have engaged nearly 2,000 voters across the state at church groups, neighborhood associations, and senior centers over the last several months.
Chris Daly adds, “While there is some opposition, they are clearly a minority as the poll shows. If they get more attention then they deserve, it's because they are a noisy minority. Legislators however, would be wise to listen to the real majority of Tennesseans who care about the communities they live in and believe tax reform is the right thing for Tennessee.”
Note on Previous MTSU Poll Results: When asked if they would
support a state income tax coupled with reduction of the sales tax and elimination
of the food tax, support for tax reform among voters statewide was:
- 46% in Spring 2002
- 58% in Fall 2002
- 61% in Spring 2003
- 62% in Fall 2003
- 59% in Spring 2004
- 59% in Fall 2004
Differences in the last five polls are statistically insignificant
as they are within the margin of error.
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