CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL For release: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 6:30 pm EDT

Views on Local Government Services and Tax Cuts July 11-16, 2012 Americans are divided on the general concept of reduced local government services in exchange for significantly lower taxes, but when asked about cuts to some specific local services like police and firefighters -- the public is much less inclined to make such a trade-off. In general, 45% of Americans say they are willing to have many of their local government services reduced if that meant they would pay significantly less in taxes, but 46% are not willing to accept that. There are partisan differences; a majority of Republicans are willing to reduce their local services in exchange for lower taxes, while Democrats are not willing. Reduced Local Govt Services if Taxes are Lower Total Reps Dems Inds Willing 45% 57% 36% 44% Not willing 46 32 54 48 Opinions change, however, when Americans are asked about cuts to some specific local services. Overwhelming majorities (eight in 10 Americans) are not willing to have emergency services reduced -- such as fewer firefighters and police officers -- even if that meant they would pay significantly less in taxes. In the area of public education, just one in five would support having shorter school days or more crowded classrooms if that meant paying lower taxes. 74% are opposed to such a trade-off. There is somewhat more support for a reduction in less essential services like libraries and parks. 30% are willing to see cuts in those areas if it meant they would pay significantly less in taxes, but a majority (66%) is still opposed to that. Support if Meant Taxes Would be Significantly Lower Willing Not Willing Fewer firefighters or fire stations 12% 83 Fewer police or precincts 15% 82 Shorter school days or crowded class rooms 21% 74 Less essential services 30% 66 There is partisan agreement on these specifics. Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents are unwilling to see cuts in these areas in exchange for lower taxes, although Republicans are the most willing to accept a reduction in less essential services if it meant they would pay significantly less in taxes.

Not Willing if it Meant Taxes Would be Significantly Lower Reps 80% 77% 68% 54% Dems 84% 85% 84% 77% Inds 84% 82% 70% 65%

Fewer firefighters or fire states Fewer police or precincts Shorter school days or crowded class rooms Less essential services

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This poll was conducted by telephone from July 11-16, 2012 among 1,089 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL Views on Local Government Services and Tax Cuts July 11-16, 2012 q60 In general, would you be willing or not willing to have many of your local government services reduced if it meant you would pay significantly less in taxes? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 45 57 36 44 46 32 54 48 4 4 6 3 5 7 4 5

Willing Not willing Depends (Vol.) Don't know/No answer

q61 Looking at your local public schools, would you be willing or not willing to have shorter school days or more crowded classrooms if it meant you would pay significantly less in taxes? Willing Not willing DK/NA 21 74 5 25 68 7 14 84 2 24 70 6

q62 Looking at your local fire department, would you be willing or not willing to have fewer firefighters and fire stations if it meant you would pay significantly less in taxes? Willing Not willing DK/NA 12 83 5 16 80 4 11 84 5 11 84 5

q63 Looking at your local police department, would you be willing or not willing to have fewer police officers and police precincts if it meant you would pay significantly less in taxes? Willing Not willing DK/NA 15 82 3 19 77 4 11 85 4 15 82 3

q64 What about less essential government services - such as libraries and parks, would you be willing or not willing to have a reduction in these services if it meant you would pay significantly less in taxes? Willing Not willing DK/NA 30 66 4 44 54 2 20 77 3 29 65 6

Total Respondents Total Republicans Total Democrats Total Independents

Unweighted 1089 304 341 444

Weighted

274 350 465