San Franciscans Fears about Jobs & Economy on Rise/
Voters Agree Tax Hikes Not the Answer

Download the Poll Results (pdf)

While the majority (65 percent) of San Francisco voters are pleased with the quality of life in San Francisco, and while concerns over homelessness and panhandling are at the top of the list of major issues, San Franciscans are more concerned than ever before with jobs and the economy. In 2008, just 12 percent of voters rated jobs and the economy as a major issue; in January 2009, worries about jobs and the economy jumped to 26 percent. (And this number may be even higher today than in January.)

The anxiety San Franciscans are expressing about jobs and the economy translate into their qualms about the city budget. Distress with the city’s financial woes has jumped from 5 percent last year to 16 percent today, and again, likely higher since January.

At the same time, city voters recognize the need for government efficiency reforms. Where it will save the city money, 64 percent would support a charter amendment making it easier to contract out certain city services.

And, with a few exceptions, voters oppose most of the recently proposed tax measures:

• 79 percent oppose a residential utility tax.
• 64 percent oppose an increase in property tax or parcel tax on homeowners.
• 57 percent oppose a new gross receipts tax on rental income.
• 54 percent oppose a new fee on downtown business for Muni.
• 54 percent would support restoring the annual vehicle license fee to 2 percent.
• And there is a near-even split (48 percent support/49 percent oppose) on raising the sales tax by even half a percent – far short of the necessary two-thirds that would be needed to pass such a measure.

San Franciscans are strongly opposed to proposed congestion-pricing plans. Fully 61 percent oppose a fee imposed on driving into or out of downtown during commute hours, and 72 percent oppose the scheme preferred by the city’s Transportation Authority, to impose a $3 fee on those who drive into or out of the northeast sector of the city, bounded by Divisadero St. on the west to 18th St. on the south and north and east to the bay.

In addition to the economy, San Franciscans are uneasy about homeownership and the cost of owning a home (21 percent), education ( 22 percent), and crime (20 percent).

The CityBeat Poll was conducted among 500 San Francisco voters in January 2009 by David Binder Research for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Committee on Jobs and Building Owners and Managers Association.

Download the Poll Results (pdf)