PROVIDENCE – Sixty percent of respondents to the latest poll from the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University said they are in favor of the state paying for two years of college tuition for students, while nearly 30 percent said they oppose it and 10.2 percent said they were unsure.
Under Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s Rhode Island Promise free college tuition plan, qualifying residents would receive two years of free college tuition at the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island.
Asked whether a family’s ability to pay the tuition should be considered for it to be free, 61.7 percent agreed, while 27.1 percent disagreed and 11.2 percent said they were unsure.
Nearly 81 percent said a certain grade point average should be maintained in high school to receive free college tuition, while 15.2 percent disagreed and 4 percent were not sure.
The poll also asked residents’ opinions about the governor’s proposal to reduce car taxes by 30 percent and House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello’s proposal to eliminate the car tax over a five-year period.
Seventy-two percent said they were in favor of Raimondo’s plan, while 23.6 percent opposed it.
Mattiello’s proposal garnered 52.2 percent of respondents in favor, and 40 percent opposed.
Regarding which tax would be the most important to be reduced, income tax was the most popular at 35.8 percent, followed by the car tax and sales tax each at 24.4 percent and business tax, 11.9 percent. Another 3.5 percent of respondents were not sure.
In addition, 78.1 percent favor raising the minimum wage to $10.50 from $9.60, while 17.4 percent oppose it and 4.5 percent were unsure.
Nearly 44 percent said raising the minimum wage will have a positive impact on job availability in the state, while 17.9 percent said it would have a negative impact.
Nearly 42 percent of Rhode Islanders think the state is moving in the right direction, while 36 percent say it is moving in the wrong direction.
According to Kathryn M. Cantwell, program manager for the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership, the poll sample included 402 registered Rhode Island voters and the margin of error was 4.9 percent. The poll was conducted March 25-29.
Cantwell said the mission of the HIPL is “to help enhance the tools and skills public leaders need to be effective decision-makers and leaders.”
“HIPL believes that effective leadership requires a timely understanding of the public’s concerns and attitudes,” Cantwell said.
With that in mind, she said the institute two years ago began working with Fleming and Associates to poll Rhode Island voters on key topics and policies.
Lori Stabile is the PBN Web Editor.
