EXCLUSIVE POLL: Support Grows For One Penny Sales Tax Increase

An exclusive News 9/News On 6 poll shows growing support for a one penny sales tax increase that would fund education in Oklahoma.

We asked more than 1,000 likely voters if they support or oppose a new one-cent sales tax, with the money going to fund teacher pay and other education expenses.  

Sixty-four percent say they would support the tax, up 7 points since November.  Twenty-nine percent oppose the tax and seven percent have no opinion.

Poll results

The measure, known as Initiative Petition No. 403, the sales tax increase was proposed by a group of education and business leaders who say it would generate about $615 million a year to help fund education.

A conservative think tank claimed it was unconstitutional because it combined several subjects into one vote, but the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 last week that the sales tax increase is constitutional. 

1/12/2016 Related Story: Oklahoma Supreme Court OKs Vote On Penny Education Tax

But those opposed to the tax increase, like Carolyn Stager with the Oklahoma Municipal League, say cities which already depend on sales tax for funding think one more cent will negatively impact their budgets.

Supporters are still trying to get the needed signatures to put the proposal on the November ballot.

About the polls: SoonerPoll conducted the survey by phone January 17-19, 2016. Our poll surveyed 1087 likely voters, registered to vote in Oklahoma. The margin of error is +/- 2.86 percent. The results were weighted by age, sex and political party and stratified to Oklahoma likely voter demographics.