FDU Poll: NJ Voters Would Sacrifice Programs for Less Spending

It may not be surprising that New Jersey voters want less government spending and lower taxes, according to a recent poll.

Those voters, however, say they would like to see that even if programs have to be reduced.

Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind found 60 percent polled say the state should hold the line on spending even if programs are cut.

Though that figure is down by 10 points from early 2010 and 2009, it has essentially remained the same since Gov. Chris Christie made his budget speech in late Match.

Only 22 percent of those polled said taxes should be raised to support state programs.

In Madison, the budget cuts eliminated all state aid to the public school district, while the municipality received $227,383 less than it did the year before.

This budget season, the borough's budget included wage freezes for all employees, as did the budget for the school district. The district also eliminated a number of positions and programs, as well as instituted an activities fee.

"What's interesting here," said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and director of the poll, "is that this figure holds steady in the midst of so many budget cuts. Second, there is agreement on this point among many different groups of voters."

When asked if they should hold the line on spending, 48 percent of democrats polled said yes, while 28 percent said no. Public employee households had a wider margin, with 50 percent saying yes and 24 percent saying no. Those who disapprove of Christie's job performance still tend to think spending should be held, with 40 percent saying yes to 33 percent saying no. Republicans, moderates and conservatives, non-public employee households, and those who approve of Christie wanted to hold spending by a larger margin.

The poll also showed the approval and disapproval levels of the president and governor. Christie's job performance got approval from 47 percent of NJ voters, while 36 percent disapproved. Those strongly approving and disapproving were almost even, as 23 percent strongly approve and 22 percent strongly disapprove of the job he has done.

The poll showed public employee households disapprove of him by 54 percent (36 percent approve) while all other households approve by 51 percent (31 percent disapprove).

State voters approve of President Barack Obama by 49 percent and disapprove at a rate of 40 percent. Democrats approve of the president by 5-to-1 margin, while independents split about evenly and 4 of 5 Republicans disapprove.

"The governor and the president have more in common than people realize," said Woolley in a release. "They are both new to their jobs, excellent speakers, very well-liked by their base, took over from unpopular incumbents, and promised great change."

The poll says three of five public employee households say the state is on the wrong track, but 42 percent of all New Jersey voters say the state is on the right track, up seven points from May. The poll also said 48 percent say the state is on the wrong track, down seven points from May.

By contrast, the poll showed 33 percent say the country is headed in the right direction and 54 percent say it's on the wrong track, unchanged from May.

The FDU poll of 801 registered voters statewide was conducted by telephone from July 27 through Aug. 2 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.