Survey: Jobs are most important issue facing Idaho 

Jobs are the most important issue facing the state of Idaho today, according to a survey of 525 people carried out late last year by Boise State University’s Public Policy Center.

More than half the respondents said cuts in state programs and services have affected their households, and a majority, or 56 percent, said they oppose raising the state sales tax by a cent to help make up a large state budget deficit.

The findings are part of an annual survey released Feb. 8. The survey, which was carried out in November and December, contained 17 questions about government and its policies.

As the economy slowly recovers, continuing unemployment remains a serious problem in Idaho and nationally. The state’s unemployment rate in December hit 9.5, passing the national rate, which has dropped to 9.4 percent.

Half of the respondents said the state is not doing enough to spur economic development in their region.

And just 49 percent of the respondents felt Idaho is headed in the right direction, the highest disapproval rate since surveyors started asking the question in 1997, Stephanie Witt, the director of the public policy center, said in prepared remarks. Witt said in 2007, 67 percent of respondents believed the state was headed in the right direction. Witt did not return calls seeking comment.

More than half of the households said they had been affected by cuts in state programs. And 51 percent said that jobs, the economy and wages are the most important issues facing Idaho.

While 56 percent of respondents opposed raising the state sales tax by a penny to close the budget gap, the attitudes on taxation shifted when the question involved education. A majority, or 53 percent, said Idaho should raise the sales tax to support the K-12 public school budget. Public schools have lost about $200 million over the last two years, and lawmakers are looking to reduce the public school budget by between $50 million and $80 million this year.

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One Response to “Survey: Jobs are most important issue facing Idaho ”

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