California Dump Truck Owners Association (CDTOA) - California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

Californians are in a dour mood, with three-quarters of adults believing the state is on the wrong course, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Residents also have little faith that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers can work together to solve the state’s fiscal problems, but would favor a tax increase if the money was targeted for schools.

“Residents have deep concerns about the economy and their own budgets, and they don’t see how California’s leaders will help guide the state through these difficult times,” said Mark Baldassare, president of the San Francisco-based think tank.

With the state facing a $20 billion shortfall through June 2011, the poll found that 74 percent of Californians believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, compared with 19 percent who said it’s OK.

Two in 3 believe the governor and Legislature will not be able to cooperate in the coming year, the highest level since the nonpartisan institute began asking the question in 2006.

The negative perception is even higher at 72 percent among Republicans.
Among the adults surveyed, 41 percent favor a mix of spending cuts and tax hikes, while 37 percent favor mostly spending cuts.

Californians agree their top spending priority is K-12 schools; conversely, the poll found 87 percent saying they would not pay higher taxes for prisons and corrections programs.

The poll was based on a telephone survey of 2,001 adults in English or Spanish from Jan. 12-19. It had a sampling error rate of plus or minus 2 percent.