PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on the California State Budget

This survey is the third in a series of special PPIC Statewide Surveys on the California State Budget and Fiscal System, begun in June 2003 and conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system.

• Three-quarters of Californians (73%) say the state budget gap is a big problem.
• Residents are concerned about the efficiency of their state government. Nearly three-quarters (71%) believe it could spend less and still provide the same level of services.
• A strong majority of likely voters (60%) support this November’s ballot measure that requires voter approval for any state-level legislation that reduces local government revenue.
• A large majority of likely voters (69%) approve of Governor Schwarzenegger’s job performance.
• Only about one-third of likely voters (35%) approve of the California legislature’s job performance. Partisan gridlock and inaction in Sacramento has been very exasperating for Californians,” says Mark Baldassare, the survey’s director and Director of Research at PPIC.