Field Poll Shows Concern Over State Spending Cuts, Tax Plan

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— The latest Field Poll shows there's not a lot of enthusiasm for the state budget signed by Governor Jerry Brown and that there are concerns over the reliance on taxes that may not materialize as well as automatic spending cuts.

California voters are concerned about the $6 billion in automatic spending cuts mostly to education that would kick in if a tax measure isn't approved in November according to Mark DeCamillo with the Field Poll.

"37 percent of voters say that the spending cuts went too far, that's compared to 24 percent who say they were about right. 28 percent said they didn't go far enough," DeCamillo said.

The governor wants voters to approve more than $8 billion in higher taxes and Chris Thornberg, founder of Beacon Economics and advisor to the state controller, said the tax initiative is risky.

KCBS' Susan Kennedy Reports:

"So even if we do vote it in we don't know how much we're going to get. If it's a recession year, it could end up doing practically nothing. If it's a boom year, sure $8 billion makes complete sense," Thornberg said.

The budget also relies on $2.3 billion from the federal estate tax that hasn't been collected in eight years and needs an act of Congress which is unlikely.

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