1985 FLORIDA ANNUAL POLICY SURVEY
SURVEY RESEARCH LABORATORY
POLICY SCIENCES PROGRAM
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
FEBRUARY 1985
1. To begin, would you pleased evaluate how well your government
and public officials
(READ OPTIONS AFTER QUESTIONS
AS NECESSARY)
1=Excellent
2=Good
3=Fair
4=Poor
8=DK
v1 a.
How would you rate the job Ronald Reagan is doing as president?
1 2 3 4 8
v2 b.
The job the US Congress is doing?
1 2 3 4 8
v3 c.
How would you rate the job Bob Graham is doing as governor?
1 2 3 4 8
v4 d.
The job the Florida legislature in Tallahassee is doing?
1 2 3 4 8
v5 e.
And how about the job your local government is doing?
1 2 3 4 8
v6 v7
2. And what do you think are the most important problems facing the
state of Florida?
(PROBE: Are there any others?)
(CODE UP TO 2 MENTIONS, CODE ANSWERS VERBATIM)
3. I would like your opinion on a few political issues. Some people realty don't have an opinion on
some of these matters. If you have no
opinion on this subject, please tell me and we can skip to the next question.
1=Favor
2=Other/Depends
3=Oppose
4=No interest
8=DK
v8 a. Raising the legal drinking age from the
current 19 to 21 years of age?
1 2 3 4 8
v9 b. State or county-run lotteries?
1 2 3 4 8
v10 c. Increasing the regulations for child day
care centers?
1 2 3 4 8
v11 d. Changing the $25,000 Homestead exemption on
property taxes so that all property owners
would have to pay something?
1 2 3 4 8
v12 e. Increasing the difficulty of teacher
certification examinations?
1 2 3 4 8
4. Would you please evaluate the following. If you are not familiar with one of them,
please tell me and we can go to the next question.
(REPEAT OPTIONS IF NECESSARY)
1=Excellent
2=Good
3=Fair
4=Poor
7=Not familiar
8=DK
v13
a. In general, would you say
the public schools where you live are excellent, good, fair, poor or aren't you
familiar with the local schools? (K-12)
1 2 3 4 7 8
v14
b. And how about the state
colleges and universities in Florida, would you say they are excellent, good,
fair, or poor, or aren't you familiar with them?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v15
c. In general, would you say
that law enforcement where you live is excellent, good, fair, or poor?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v16
d. How about the maintenance
of roads and highways where you live? Is the maintenance excellent, good, fair,
or poor?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v17
e. How about social services
for the poor, disabled, and elderly?
Are they excellent, good, fair, or poor?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v18
f. How about the quality of
the fresh water where you live, is it excellent, good, fair, or poor?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v19
g. How about electrical power, is the service you receive excellent,
good, fair, or poor?
1 2 3 4 7 8
5. Next, let me ask you about the taxes you gay. From your personal
standpoint, please tell me for each tax I read off to you if you feel it is too
high, too low, or about right?
IF TOO HIGH, ASK: Somewhat
too high or much too high?
1=Much too high
2=Somewhat too high
3=About right
4=Too low
5=Do not pay
8=DK
v20 a. Florida state sales tax
1 2 3 4 5 8
v21 b. Local property tax
1 2 3 4 5 8
v22 c. State gasoline tax
1 2 3 4 5 8
6. Now I'm going to ask you some questions about spending by the
state government in Tallahassee. Please
bear in mind that eventually all government spending comes out of the taxes you
and other Floridians pay. As I mention
each program area, tell me whether you think the amount now being spent should
be increased, kept at the present level or decreased.
1=Increased
2=Present level
3=Decreased
8=DK
v24 01. State highways and road systems
1 2 3 8
v25 02. Elderly people
1 2 3 8
v26 03. Public schools (K-12)
1 2 3 8
v27 04. State colleges and universities
1 2 3 8
v28 05. Protection of the environment
1 2 3 8
v29 06. Low income families with children
1 2 3 8
v30 07. Industrial development and attracting new
industries
1 2 3 8
v31 08. To combat crime
1 2 3 8
v32 09. State prisons and correctional facilities
1 2 3 8
v33 10. Health care services
1 2 3 8
v34 11. Promote tourism
1 2 3 8
IF NO PROGRAM FOR INCREASE, SKIP
TO Q8
v35
7. Of those program areas which one you feel should receive increased
spending, which one would you designate
as your top priority for the increase?
You mentioned… (NAME
PROGRAMS)
(CODE ONLY ONE PROGRAM)
01. Highways
02. Elderly
03. Public
04.Colleges/universities
05. Environment
06. Low income families
07. Industry development
08. Combat crime
09. Prisons
10. Health care
11. Promote tourism
98. DK
IF NO PROGRAM FOR DECREASE,
SKIP TO Q9
v36
8. Of those program areas which you feel should receive decreased
spending, which one would you designate as your top priority for the decrease?
You mentioned… (NAME
PROGRAMS)
(CODE ONLY ONE PROGRAM)
01. Highways
02. Elderly
03. Public
04.Colleges/universities
05. Environment
06. Low income families
07. Industry development
08. Combat crime
09. Prisons
10. Health care
11. Promote tourism
98. DK
Now I'm going to read you
some statements containing two opposing ideas that people have mentioned to
us. Of course some people are not
interested in either idea, so if you are not interested in either, please tell
me and we will go on to the next question.
v37
9. Some people think that state and local taxes should be reduced
even if public services have to be cut.
Others say we need these public services even if it means paying the
same taxes. Which do you prefer -
reducing taxes or maintaining services?
1. Reduce taxes
2. Other/depends
3. Maintain
7. No interest
8. DK
v38
10. Some people think that Florida should increase state spending to
upgrade the quality of public schools.
Others say that state spending for public schools should be kept at the
present level even if the quality of the schools could not be improved. Which do you prefer - increase spending or
keep at the present level?
1. Increase spending
2. Other/depends
3. Keep at present level
7. No interest
8. DK
Next let me ask you about
crime.
v39
11. In the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about the
crime problem facing Florida.
Personally speaking, how concerned have you been about this crime
problem - extremely concerned, concerned, or somewhat concerned?
1. Extremely concerned
2. Concerned
3. Somewhat concerned
8. DK
v40
12. Within the past year or two, do you think that crime in your
neighborhood has increased, decreased, or remained about the same?
1. Increased
2. About the same
3. Decreased
4. Not lived here that long
8. DK
v41
13. How safe and secure do you feel at home at night? Would you say very safe, somewhat safe, or not
very safe?
1. Very safe
2. Somewhat safe
3. Not very safe
8. DK
v42
Next, I'd like to ask a few
questions about your local community.
By community I mean the city or town in which you live. If you don't live in a city or town, please
answer the questions in terms of the county in which you live.
14. Do you live within the official boundaries of a city or town, or
do you live in an unincorporated or rural area?
1. City or town
2. Unincrp/rrl
(Skip to Q19)
8. DK (Skip.
to Q19)
v43
15. Cities and towns provide a number of services to their
citizens. In general how good a job do
you feel your city or town does in providing services? Would you say excellent, good, fair, or
poor?
1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor
7. Not familiar
8. DK
16. Let's look now at some of the key services the city or town
provides. If your city or town does not
provide one or more of the services I mention, please tell me and we can go on
to the next question.
1=Excellent
2=Good
3=Fair
4=Poor
7=Not
familiar
8=DK
v44
a. How good a job do you f eel your city or town does in providing
police protection, excellent, good, fair, or poor, or aren't you familiar with
this service?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v45
b. And how about providing fire protection, does your city or town
do an excellent, good, fair, or poor job, or aren't you familiar with this
service?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v46
c. How about in collecting garbage and trash, does your city do an
excellent, good, fair, or poor job?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v47
d. How about maintaining city streets and roads, does your city do
an excellent, good, fair, or poor job?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v48
e. How about in providing for parks and recreational facilities,
does your city or town do an excellent,
good, fair, or poor job?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v49
f. And, finally, how about in providing fresh water, does your city
or town do an excellent, good, fair, or poor job?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v50
17. From your personal standpoint, do you feel that the taxes you pay
to your city or town government are too high, too low, or about right?
IF TOO HIGH, ASK:
17a. Much too high, or somewhat too high?
1. Much too high
2. Somewhat too high
3. Too low
4. About right
8. DK
v51
18. In your community, is traffic congestion a serious problem, somewhat
of a problem, or not a problem at all?
1. Serious problem
2. Somewhat of a problem
3. Not a problem
8. DK
v52
19. How satisfied are you with your community as a place to live,
satisfied, dissatisfied, or neither?
IF SATISFIED, ASK:
19a. Are you very satisfied or only somewhat
satisfied?
IF DISSATISFIED ASK:
19b. Are you very dissatisfied or only somewhat
dissatisfied?
1. Very satisfied
2. Somewhat satisfied
3. Neither
4. Somewhat dissatisfied
5. Very dissatisfied
8. DK
v53
20. And what about your local government- how much of the time can
you trust it to do what is right- just about always, most of the time, some of
the time, or never?
1. Always
2. Most of the time
3. Some of the time
4. Never
8. DK
v54
21. And what about your local government - how much of each tax
dollar you pay to it is wasted - all of it, most of it, some of it, or hardly
any of it?
1. All of it
2. Most of it
3. Some of it
4. Hardly any of it
5. None of it
8. DK
v55
22. Do you think the population in your community is growing too fast,
too slowly, at the right pace, or not
growing at all?
1. Too fast
2. Too slowly
3. Right pace
4. Not growing
8. DK
In talking to people about
population growth, we've heard many comments about the effects of growth on
their communities. I am going to read a
few of these to you, and I want you to tell me if you agree or disagree with
each. If you have no opinion, please
tell me and I will go on to the next one.
1=Agree
2=Disagree
7=No opinion
8=DK
23. Population growth has
contributed to:
v56 a.
Crime?
1 2 7 8
v57 b.
Air pollution?
1 2 7 8
v58 c.
Declining water quality in lakes, rivers or the ocean?
1 2 7 8
v59 d.
The loss of natural areas such as fields, woods, marshes or beaches?
1 2 7 8
v60 e Higher taxes?
1 2 7 8
v61 f.
Poor drainage and flooding?
1 2 7 8
v62 g.
An increase of new people different from you?
1 2 7 8
v63
24. Have any of the problems of population growth we've just
discussed made you consider moving somewhere else?
1. Yes
2. No (Skip
to Q25)
8. DK (Skip
to Q25)
v64 v65
v66
IF YES, ASK: 24a. Which
problems made you want to move?
(RECORD VERBATIM IM IN ORDER)
1.
__________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3.
__________________________________________________________________
v67
24b. Where would you like to move to: somewhere
else in this community, to a nearby community, in this community somewhere else
in Florida, or someplace outside of Florida?
1. Somewhere else
2. A nearby community
3. Somewhere else in Florida
4. Outside of Florida
8. DK
v68
25. Do you feel that population growth in your community should be
stopped, limited, or not controlled at all?
1. Stopped
2. Limited
3. Not cntrld (Skip to Q26)
8. DK (Skip
to Q26)
IF STOPPED OR LIMITED, ASK:
v69
25a. Should the government do
something about population growth?
1. Yes
2. No (Skip to Q26)
8. DK (Skip
to Q26)
IF YES TO 25a, ASK:
v70
25b. What level of government
should take primary responsibility for controlling population growth: cities
and towns, counties, the state, or the federal government?
1. Cities and towns
2. Counties
3. State
4. Federal
8. DK
(IF COMBINATION, ASK WHO HAS
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY)
26. I am going to read you some statements about population growth in
your community. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each. Many people have no feelings one way or the
other about these statements. If you
don't have any feelings about one of these, please tell me and I will go on to
the next one.
1=Strongly agree
2=Agree
3=Disagree
4=Strongly Disagree
7=No feelings
8=DK
v71
a. It is important to control
population growth even if that places restrictions on what people can build on
their property. Do you strongly agree,
agree, disagree, strongly disagree, or don't you have any feelings about this?
1 2 3 4 7 8
v72
b. It is important to control population growth even if it results
in fewer jobs in your community. Do
you…
1 2 3 4 7 8
v73
c. It is important to control population growth even if it means new
houses will cost more. Do you…
1 2 3 4 7 8
v74
d. It is important to control population growth even if you must pay
higher, taxes or fees as a result of the regulations. Do you…
1 2 3 4 7 8
v75
e. The number of apartments and condominiums built should be
strictly limited. Do you…
1 2 3 4 7 8
v76
f. New housing should only be allowed when services, such as water,
sewers, drainage, and roads, are adequate to handle the additional number of
people. Do you…
1 2 3 4 7 8
v77
g. Building in fragile natural areas, such as flood plains, beaches,
scenic areas, or marshes, should be prohibited. Do you...
1 2 3 4 7 8
v78
Now I would like to ask you
several questions about citizen participation in initiative and referendum
procedures. Initiatives and referenda
are special methods of passing laws that let the voters decide what proposals
become law. A proposal is placed on the
ballot and if enough voters vote for it, it becomes a law. A recent example of an initiative that
became a law is Proposition 13 in California.
The voters in California approved the initiative to limit the amount of
taxes levied on property.
27. Does Florida law allow
initiatives or referenda to be placed on the ballot?
1. Yes
2. No (Skip
to Q29)
8. DK (Skip to Q29)
IF YES, ASK:
v79
27a. Do you think the method for putting
initiatives on the ballot in Florida is
alright the way it is, should be changed to make it easier to put initiatives
on the ballot, should be changed to make it harder, or don't you have any
feelings about this?
1. Alright the way it is
2. Make it easier
3. Make it harder
7. No feelings
8. DK
28. Have you ever been
involved in any of the following initiative or referendum activities in
Florida, such as:
v80
a. Signed a petition for an initiative
1. Yes
2. No
8. DK
v81
b. Attended a meeting about an initiative
1. Yes
2. No
8. DK
v82
c. Made a donation to support an initiative
1. Yes
2. No
8. DK
v83
d. Campaigned in support of an initiative
1. Yes
2. No
8. DK
Finally, to make the study
complete, we need to know a few things about your background.
v84
29. In politics today, do you think of your self as a liberal, a
conservative, or as middle-of-the-road, or don't you think of yourself in these
terms?
1. Conservative
2. Middle of the road
3. Liberal
4. Don't think in these terms
8. DK
v85
30 Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a
Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or what?
IF REPUBLICAN, ASK: Would you
call yourself a strong Republican or a not so strong Republican?
IF INDEPENDENT, ASK: Do you
think of yourself as closer to the Republicans, or closer to the Democrats?
IF DEMOCRAT, ASK: Would you
call yourself a not so strong Democrat or a strong Democrat?
(CODE OTHER. PARTIES ONLY IF
VOLUNTEERED)
1. Strong Republican
2. Not so strong Republican
3. Closer to Republicans
4. Independent/Neither
5. Closer to Democrats
6. Not so strong Democrat
7. Strong Democrat
8. DK
0. Other
v86
31. Some people see government as mostly doing good things for
them. Others see government as mostly
doing bad things to them. How about
you- do you see government as mostly good, mostly bad, or about equally good
and bad?
1. Mostly good
2. Good/bad
3. Mostly bad
8. DK
v87
32. How much of the time do you think you can trust Florida state
government to do what is right - just about always, most of the time, same of
the time, or never?
1. Always
2. Most of the time
3. Some of the time
4. Never
8. DK
v88
33. How much of each tax dollar you pay to state government here in
Florida would you say is wasted - all of it, most of it, some of it, or hardly
any of it?
1. All of it
2. Most of it
3. Some of it
4. Hardly any of it
5. None
8. DK
v89
34. How often would you say you vote in elections - always, most of
the time, sometimes, or never?
1. Always
2. Most of the time
3. Sometimes
4. Never
8. D K
v90
35. In the 1984 presidential election, when Reagan ran against
Mondale did you vote or did something come up that kept you from voting?
1. Yes, voted
2. No, didn't vote
8. DK
v91
36. At present, are you registered to vote in the state of Florida?
1. Yes
2. No
8. DK
v92
37. And in what year were you
born? (CODE LAST 2 DIGITS)
v93
38. Have you lived in Florida
all your life?
1. Yes (Skip
to Q41)
2. No
v94
39. In what year did you move
to Florida? ( CODE LAST 2 DIGITS)
v95
40. From what state did you
move?
v96
41. What was the highest
grade or year of school you completed?
1. Eight years or less.
2. 9-11 years
3. Completed high school
4. Bsnss/tch school (Skip to Q43)
5. Some college
6. Completed college
7. Graduate/professional
8. DK
IF ANY COLLEGE, ASK:
v97
42. What about your education after high school? Was all of it, a
part of it, or none of it received at a technical, vocational, or business
training school?
1. All
2. Part
3. None
8. DK
v98
43. What is your race?
1. White
2. Black
3. Some other race
8. DK
v99
44. Are you of Spanish or Hispanic origin?
IF YES, ASK: Are you of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, or
some other Spanish origin?
1. No (Skip
to Q45)
2. Yes, Cuban
3. Yes, Mexican
4. Yes, Puerto Rican
5. Yes, other
8. DK
v100
45. Do you own or rent your
home?
1. Own
2. Rent
3. Other
8. DK
v101
46. How many phone numbers does your home have?
1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. Four
5. Five
6. Six or more
v102
47. Now, consider all sources of income for everyone living with you
in 1984 before taxes. Please stop me
when I get to your income level.
(READ CATEGORIES)
1. Under $5,000
2. $5,000 to 10,000
3. $10,000 to 15,000
4. $15,000 to 20,000
5. $20,000 to 25,000
6. $25,000 to 30,000
7. $30,000 to 40,000
8. Over $40,000
9. Refused
0. DK
That completes our survey.
Thank you for your time and help. Good bye.
DO NOT ASK:
v103
Sex of respondent
1. Male
2. Female