Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington voters are certainly not thrilled about taxes. But they are open to paying higher taxes to save the state’s social safety net.

That’s the conclusion of polling and focus groups conducted by unions and others who are looking for alternatives to deep budget cuts. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Adam Glickman with SEIU Local 775 has been talking with voters lately. He says many know the state is facing an $8 billion budget shortfall. But there’s not a lot of understanding about what a deficit of that magnitude means in terms of cuts to education and social services.

When told that nursing homes, community health clinics, and schools could be severely hit, Glickman says voters appear open to paying higher taxes.

Adam Glickman: “I think what we’re looking at most are which programs and services people most want to save and looking at what kinds of taxes people might be willing to pay in order to save those services.”

Polling data obtained by the Associated Press shows voters are especially open to sin taxes on items like liquor and cigarettes. But they might even support a one cent sales tax increase as long as it’s temporary.