ATLANTA – A new survey shows that an overwhelming majority of Georgians support Governor Sonny Perdue’s proposed budget plan to close the state deficit. Upon taking office, Perdue inherited the worst fiscal crisis in the state since the Great Depression. He has proposed solving the crisis with a three-part budget plan: fiscal discipline leading to reductions in government spending, cutting state property taxes by making the $10,000 homestead exemption permanent, and raising revenue to close the deficit with a tax on tobacco.

The survey found that 87% of respondents considered the budget shortfall to be a serious issue. Perdue has called on legislators of both parties to work with him on a bipartisan basis to make "hard choices" and adopt a "balanced approach" to the budget. The survey shows that Georgians supported Governor Perdue’s budget plan by a margin of 80% in support, with only 17% opposed.

Support for the Perdue budget is deep and broad, cutting across party, racial, gender, and geographical lines. It enjoys a strong majority of support among men and women, Democrats and Republicans, whites and African-Americans, rural and suburban residents. When the elements in the Perdue budget plan were tested separately, each item enjoyed support from between 67% and 83% of those surveyed. When asked whether balancing the budget should include additional revenue from tobacco products, 82% said they were in favor.

"Governor Perdue inherited a fiscal mess after decades of Democrat rule and mismanagement," said Ralph Reed, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. "This survey shows clearly that the people of Georgia support his plan of fiscal discipline, reducing government spending, cutting property taxes by making the homestead exemption permanent, and raising revenue to close the deficit. Governor Perdue is offering leadership at a time when the state of Georgia faces a serious fiscal crisis, and the people of Georgia are responding that his unique leadership."


The survey was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on February 25 and 27, 2003, among 600 likely voters, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.