ARKANSANS ARE UNIFORM IN DISLIKE OF SALES TAX ON FOOD

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Regardless of political party or ideology, Arkansans say they want to eliminate the sales tax on food sold at grocery stores, according to the first of four special reports released today from the Arkansas Poll.

"Among the 68 questions we asked on the Arkansas Poll, one of the strongest and clearest signals Arkansans sent had to do with the sales tax on food," said Dr. Janine Parry, associate professor of political science at the University of Arkansas and director of the Arkansas Poll. "Some 72 percent of Arkansas felt that tax should be removed. And of that 72 percent, more than three-fourths-or 76 percent-strongly approved its removal."

This opinion cut across political party and ideology in almost equal proportions. Democrats (69 percent), Republicans (72 percent) and Independents (75 percent) approved of removal of the sales tax on food. Likewise, liberals (72 percent), moderates (67 percent) and conservatives (72 percent) approved.

In general, Parry said, a majority of Arkansans (53 percent) thinks all state and local taxes are too high.

"That’s not unusual or exceptional," she said. "National polls often ask people how they feel about the level of national taxes they pay. The Gallup Poll has been asking these types of questions since 1946 and finds that a majority feel that their taxes are too high no matter how high or low the tax rate has been."

People’s views on taxes are also connected to how satisfied they feel with the services they receive-a finding confirmed by the Arkansas Poll, said Dr. Will Miller, director of the UA Public Policy Ph.D. program and author of the first special report.

"In the Arkansas Poll, those who are unsatisfied with services are over twice as likely to think that taxes are too high," Miller said. "Some 70 percent of those who are unsatisfied with services also thought taxes are too high. Only 34 percent of those who are satisfied with services think taxes are too high."

The Arkansas Poll, conducted between Sept. 15 and Oct. 2, also asked its 885 respondents across the state about property taxes.

"The property tax issue is a very important one," Miller said, "Decisions on this issue will shape taxation and the operation of government and public services in very significant ways.

"A telling question regarding the upcoming property tax vote in November 2000 asked whether property taxes in Arkansas should be increased, kept the same, reduced, or abolished," Miller added. "Only 2 percent said they want an increase; 22 percent said they want the tax kept the same; 30 percent want the property tax abolished; the largest group-42 percent-said they wanted to see a reduction in the tax. This distribution of opinion was the same regardless of the political party of the respondents."

Of the 30 percent of the respondents who want to abolish the property tax, 45 percent would do so regardless of whether revenue was replaced; 46 percent would abolish the property tax only if some of all of the revenue would be replaced.

Congressional District #3 (west and northwest Arkansas) is the least supportive of the present property tax policy, with 37 percent of the respondents in these counties opting to abolish the property tax.

"Still, even in District #3 a slightly higher percentage-39-percent-are for reducing rather than abolishing the property tax and 17 percent wish to keep it as is," Miller said.

Congressional Districts #1 (Northeast) and #2 (Central) have less than a quarter of the people who wish to abolish the property tax, while District #4 (South) has 33 percent favoring its abolition.

Miller said that, by most measures, Arkansas is regarded as a low-tax state. Arkansas ranks 49^th among the states in total tax revenue per capita and 48^th in per capita property tax. The lone exception is per capita sales tax, where the state ranks 17^th.

When Arkansas were asked if they favored or opposed legalizing gambling, 53 percent were opposed, 38 percent were in favor, and eight percent were undecided.

The average age of people who supported legalizing gambling was 44, while the average age of those who opposed it was 52.

Partywise, 64 percent of those who identified themselves as Republicans were against legalizing gambling; 52 percent of the Independents were against it, while less than half of the Democrats (49 percent) were against it.

Church-going played a large role in respondents’ opinions about legalizing gambling, with more frequent church-goers about twice as likely to oppose gambling.

Among all respondents, 62 percent reported attending church more than once a month. Of these more frequent church attendees, 67 percent were opposed to legalizing gambling. Of those who reported attending church once a month of less, only 36 percent were opposed to legalizing gambling while 51 percent favored it.