By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – A new poll shows nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers believe state government is doing a fair or poor job on 18 of 20 issues they consider most important -- including taxes, education and jobs.
New York Matters -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan group -- released a report Thursday aimed at focusing the governor's race on issues most important to voters. The group's research associate, Erika Rosenberg, said those polled were split -- at 38 percent -- over whether the highest budget priority next year should be reducing state taxes or maintaining programs and services.
"We see that over and over again in the poll that people are upset over the level of taxation but do want quality programs," Rosenberg said. "They do want certain priorities such as education to be invested in. They want value for their tax dollar."
Marist College's Institute for Public Opinion worked with New York Matters on the poll. Institute officials say people are looking for a fresh start in government, and that dissatisfaction is running very high.