Measure M Extension:
How Would Orange County Residents Vote?
Survey finds 66 percent of Orange County
residents would vote in favor of Measure M Extension, if details
are provided.
May 17, 2005
Orange County voters are more willing
to support the renewal of Measure M, the county’s half
percent transportation sales tax, if given a detailed list
of specific Orange County transportation projects that would
benefit, including freeways, transit, streets and roads, according
to an Orange County Business Council (OCBC)/Cal State Fullerton
Center for Public Policy survey released today.
“When very real, very specific projects
are introduced into a discussion of transportation funding,
support for the renewal of Measure M reaches the two-thirds
voter threshold needed for an extension,” said Stan
Oftelie, OCBC president and CEO. “This replicates the
findings of an Orange County Transportation Authority poll
taken last year that found 70 percent would vote in favor
of an extension after being given a list of projects. Putting
the right projects in a transportation expenditure plan and
then letting the public clearly know what their tax dollars
are buying, will be critical to any successful renewal effort.”
When initially asked if they supported a Measure
M extension, 50 percent of those surveyed said they would
support a renewal. After hearing a list of probable transportation
projects that could be included in a renewed Measure M, support
jumped to 66 percent.
“Issues like renewing Measure M essentially
come down to weighing costs versus benefits,” said Phil
Gianos, professor of political science at Cal State Fullerton
and director of the university’s Center for Public Policy.
“If you focus solely on the price tag in a survey question,
you tend to get reduced expressions of support. If you include
the specific programs to be funded by that spending, support
tends to increase. These results indicate that renewing Measure
M will be difficult — it’s always hard to get
two-thirds support — but certainly possible. This is
another reminder that campaigns really matter, as will certainly
be the case with renewing Measure M.”
The survey’s specific questions included
the following tentative transportation projects list:
The Orange County Transportation Authority
is exploring a number of possibilities for the renewal of
Measure M. I’m going to read you a short list of these
possibilities. Please tell me whether you think you would
strongly support, support, oppose or strongly oppose using
these locally generated funds for:
• Relieving congestion and
improving traffic flow on the 5, 91, 405, 22, 55, and 57 freeways,
• Maintaining city and county streets and filling potholes,
• Expanding bus, light rail, and Metrolink rail services,
• Expanding transit services for seniors and disabled
persons,
• Instituting an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee
with a chairman elected by county voters to ensure that all
funds are spent for transportation projects approved by the
voters.
The survey found 91 percent supported
or strongly supported Measure M funds for maintaining city
and county streets; 89 percent supported relieving congestion
and improving traffic flow; 84 percent were in favor of expanding
transit services for seniors and disabled; 75 percent supported
expanding public transit; and 71 percent supported instituting
an independent citizens oversight committee.
In November 1990, Orange County voters
authorized the 20-year Measure M program to finance specific
transportation projects. Since Measure M became law with 55
percent voter approval, the California Supreme Court ruled
that transportation sales tax measures need a two-thirds vote
for renewal or extension. The OCTA Board of Directors currently
is exploring the potential of a November 2006 countywide vote
to extend Measure M for up to 30 years.
Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego
counties each have recently renewed their local option transportation
sales tax measures.
The current Orange County survey was
conducted in March and April for the CSUF Center for Public
Policy/OCBC team by the Social Science Research Center (SSRC)
at CSUF. The telephone survey respondents consisted of randomly
selected households. The SSRC director is Gregory Robinson.
Telephone interviews were conducted utilizing
Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) equipment
and software. The CATI system is an information-gathering
protocol that contributes to the accuracy of data and to preserving
the random nature of the sample.
A draft survey instrument was provided
by the CSUF Center for Public Policy and refined by the SSRC
for comprehensiveness, flow, length and factors that influence
respondent cooperation and interest.
Sample design and technical assistance
with data analysis was provided by the SSRC.
Interviews were conducted between March
22 and April 12, 2005. Total sample size was 477 with a confidence
interval of plus or minus 4.6 percent.
The Orange County Business Council is a private-sector
alliance of companies and public-sector partners that
represents hundreds of local enterprises from small
shops to giant multinational companies. OCBC provides
the forum for businesses to join together, often in
conjunction with government and educational institutions,
to invest in the growth and prosperity of the fifth
largest county in America.
Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Public Policy
seeks to enhance public policy dialogues in the Orange
County community by encouraging faculty research on
current local issues. Analysis of Orange County infrastructure
is a continuing interest, with such focuses as coastal
water cleanliness, transportation, schools, sanitation
and housing. |
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