Valley
Leaders Less Conservative than Their Reputation:
Education
Key to Economic Development in Arizona
Business and community leaders in
Maricopa County overwhelmingly cite educational improvements as the most
important factor for economic development in Arizona, according to a new O'Neil
Associates Valley Influentials Poll.
When Valley leaders were asked to
state in their own words "what is the most important thing the state could
do to further economic development in Arizona?" fully 38% mentioned
various upgrades they hope to see made to the state's education system. Said
Dr. Michael O'Neil, Ph.D., "Everyone who follows the news in Arizona has
been bombarded for years with bad tidings about the condition of our school
system and how it compares to other states. It probably comes as a surprise to
nobody that education clearly tops the list of Arizonans' concerns."
Dr. O'Neil continued, "It is
surprising, however, that business leaders place education so far ahead of the
other factors on their list of possible improvements, especially considering
that we were asking not what the state's biggest problem is, but specifically
what could be done to further economic development."
As a distant second, factors
relating to the business climate and the structure of and investments in
industry in Arizona were mentioned by 23%. Changes to the state's tax structure
or taxation level came in third, cited by 18%. Two other factors were mentioned
by notable numbers of Valley leaders: changes to various levels of government
and governmental policy (10%) and changes needed to enhance the quality of life
in Arizona (4%), for instance through environmental improvements and resolution
of growth problems.
A Closer Look at Tax and
Education Responses
O'Neil continued, "When we dug
a little deeper and looked at the breakdown of responses within these
categories, we found even further evidence that the lowering of taxes is very
low on the priority list of business leaders."
The 18% who cited various tax
issues included only 5% who cited tax cuts. An additional 11% called in more
general terms for changes to Arizona's tax code and structure, mainly to create
better business incentives. This is consistent with a survey finding we
reported several weeks ago: when the same group of business and community
leaders was faced with the choice between lower taxes and increased education,
the overwhelming majority opted for more education funding. The current survey
data underscore that result; even when the question is posed in terms of
"furthering economic development," education trumps tax cuts by a
wide margin.
Other breakdowns were also
interesting. Of the 38% who mentioned education, 16% said in general terms that
education in Arizona was in need of some type of improvement, while 12%
specifically mentioned the need for increased funding, and another 10%
mentioned education first among several factors needing reform. The 23% calling
for changes to the state's business structure includes 7% citing recruitment
problems, 3% citing lack of diversity in the workforce, 3% venture capital, and
2% each citing improvements for small businesses, the need for higher-wage
industries in Arizona, an inadequate business climate, and lack of support for
existing businesses.
Conservatives
vs. the Rest
Education is cited most frequently
by nearly all subgroups of Valley business and community leaders. Even those
registered with the Republican party, a party that traditionally has placed
great emphasis on lessening the tax burden, give higher priority to education
than to any other issue, though the proportion of Republicans (33%) citing
education is somewhat lower than for Democrats (43%) and those with other
registrations (41%). In turn, tax factors were cited relatively more frequently
by Republicans than by Democrats (11%) and "others" (16%). Those with
other registrations, incidentally, appear to be more alienated by Arizona's
political system, citing problems with government somewhat more frequently
(16%) than Democrats (6%) and Republicans (11%).
Only those who identify themselves
as conservatives break the pattern of giving highest priority to educational
improvements. At 24%, conservatives are far less likely than liberals (47%) and
moderates (42%) to cite education. Education, in fact, is only third among
conservatives' priorities, which are topped by calls for improvements to the
business and industry climate (31%) and tax reform (26%). Liberals and
moderates adhere more closely to the overall order of priorities.
"Much of the Arizona
legislature defines itself as conservative, and part of this identification has
been a strong emphasis on lower taxes," said Dr. O'Neil.
"As our poll shows, however,
it cannot be presumed that this political platform represents the business
community in its entirety. It seems there may be a disconnect between the
conservative legislature and some of its supposed constituents. This is not to
suggest that the business community is not conservative, but it sounds more
like a type of conservatism that emphasizes prudent spending over low taxes at
any cost."
Finally, few notable differences
exist in the preferences of the members of the four organizations whose members
participated in the survey of business and community leaders (Greater Phoenix
Leadership, Valley Leadership, East Valley Partnership, and Westmarc).
Education is cited most frequently in all groups. Concern with the climate for business and industry is most common among East Valley Partnership and Greater Phoenix Leadership members, whereas members of Valley Leadership and Westmarc are also relatively concerned with the system of taxation in Arizona.
About the Poll. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll is a web-based survey that was sent to all members of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Valley Leadership, East Valley Partnership, and Westmarc. As such, this survey does not purport to be a random or representative sampling of the general population of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It would be difficult, however, to conceive of a more comprehensive representation from which to draw inferences about the opinions and sensibilities of business and community leaders than the combined membership of these organizations, although, inevitably, any definition of influentials is somewhat subjective. The persons surveyed are likely to exert disproportionate influence on and be an early indicator of community opinion by virtue of their position, community involvement, and political participation. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll was not sponsored or paid for by any outside organization. Four hundred eight participants completed the survey between June 13 and June 24, 2002, yielding a margin of error of ±4.5%. O’Neil Associates, Inc. is a Tempe-based public opinion research firm specializing in client-focused attitude and awareness studies for a wide variety of industries and organizations.
FOR RELEASE AUGUST 16, 2002, 12 NOON (VIP011-2002-01)
FURTHER
INFORMATION: Michael O'Neil, Ph.D., 480-967-4441
These
results may be reported freely provided that they are identified as the “O’Neil
Associates Valley Influentials Poll” including identification on any graphic
material.
O’Neil Associates has
tracked public opinion across the Valley, Arizona, and the Nation since 1981.
To be healthy, public debate must be informed—this is why we commit our
resources to measuring opinions on the political and social issues people care
about and talk about. O’Neil Associates, however, is much more than that.
While the Valley Influentials Poll and Valley Monitor may be our
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