New poll: 68 percent of Nashville voters oppose tax hike
June 12, 2012 NASHVILLE – The Beacon Center of Tennessee, the state’s Nashville-based free market think tank, today released portions of a poll concerning the proposed 13 percent property tax increase in Davidson County. The opinion survey informed voters of Mayor Karl Dean’s proposed budget and tax increase and asked whether they support or oppose the plan. An overwhelming 68 percent of likely voters oppose the measure, while just 21 percent support it. “The survey results prove what we have been saying all along, that now is not the time to raise taxes on hardworking Nashvillians,” said local business owner Philip Beyer. “Let’s just hope the Council heeds the call of Davidson County taxpayers, rather than just sit back and let the mayor force this tax hike on us all. If they don’t, I’ll be leaving Davidson County and taking my business with me.” The specific question asked of voters was: “Metro Nashville-Davidson County Mayor Karl Dean is proposing a 13 percent property tax increase in his recommended budget for the city. The proposed budget includes a net spending increase of 7.85 percent. Please tell me if you support or oppose this proposed tax and budget plan, which is currently being debated by the Metro Council?” “We have heard over and over that the public is on the mayor’s side,” said Beacon’s CEO Justin Owen. “We wanted to find out for ourselves, and the results of this survey unequivocally show that despite what the mayor has been saying, taxpayers do not support his plan to increase taxes.” Hill Research Consultants, a full-service public opinion and marketing research firm organized in 1988, conducted the poll from June 5-7, 2012. The sample size was 403 likely voters, with a margin of error of ±4.9 percent. Special care was taken to ensure that geographic, party affiliation, and demographic divisions of the actual electorate are properly represented in the results of the poll. The full poll report, including additional questions about the proposed budget and tax plan, as well as voters’ attitudes toward Metro Council members’ performance, will be released Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. CST.
###