Ohio Voters Support Taxing the Wealthy and Investing More in Workers and Families
By Evangel Penumaka and Tenneth Fairclough II
In November, a petition to incrementally raise Ohio’s minimum wage moved closer to become a ballot question asked to voters. A September survey of 1,387 likely voters in Ohio conducted by Data for Progress examined voter attitudes toward similar policies, such as taxing the wealthy and corporations, in addition to social policies.
We find that voters support taxes on the wealthy and corporations, including the creation of a new tax bracket to increase tax rates on higher-income earners and implementation of a state corporate tax rate. Voters also support policies that would support workers, such as increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and enacting a state Child Tax Credit. We also find that voters support social policies such as introducing participatory budgeting for public spending and adopting a “health-first” approach to public safety.
Ohio Voters Support Taxes on the Wealthy and Corporations
We first looked at support for creating a new tax bracket for those making over $250,000 and another bracket that increases tax rates on people making over $500,000. We find that 71 percent of voters support creating the new tax brackets, by a +47-point margin. A majority of voters across urbanicity support the new tax brackets, as well; however, urban voters show the strongest support at 78 percent (+61-point margin), compared to suburban voters (+42-point margin) and rural voters (+45-point margin).
We then asked if Ohio voters would support or oppose implementing a state corporate income tax. We find that a majority of voters support this tax on corporations, by a +17-point margin. Again, urban voters show the strongest support (+28-point margin) compared to suburban and rural voters (+12-point margin and +14-point margin, respectively).
Voters Support Policies That Invest in Families and Workers
We also looked at support for increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. We find that a majority of Ohio voters support the measure, by a +23-point margin. Urban voters show the strongest support at 73 percent. However, a majority of suburban voters and rural voters also back such an increase, by a +20-point margin and a +13-point margin, respectively.
We also asked voters if they would support a state Child Tax Credit. We find that 77 percent of voters support implementing such a credit, by a +59-point margin. We also find overwhelming support across urbanicity, with at least 74 percent of urban, suburban, and rural voters in favor.
Voters in Ohio Support Social Policies
We also find strong support for adopting a “health-first” approach to public safety, where mental health professionals, medical personnel, or trained peers with lived experience, rather than law enforcement, would be sent to help people experiencing behavioral health crises. We find that a majority of Ohio voters support a “health-first” approach, by a +37-point margin. Across urbanicity, this approach enjoys strong majority support among urban voters at 75 percent, while suburban and rural voters support it by margins of +33 points and +32 points, respectively.
Next, we looked at support for implementing participatory budgeting in Ohio, where voters would be directly involved in deciding how to spend parts of a public budget by proposing policy ideas and voting on how much money should be spent. We find that 70 percent of voters support adopting a participatory budgeting method for public spending, by a +52-point margin. We also find similar support across urbanicity in the state, with 76 percent of urban voters and 72 percent of rural voters backing the method. A majority of suburban voters also support the method, by a +46-point margin.
Conclusion
Our poll shows that Ohio voters support taxes on the wealthy and corporations to make sure they pay their fair share, and support policies that invest in workers and families. Also, voters in Ohio support social policies, including a “health-first” public safety approach and participatory budgeting for public spending. Voters in Ohio are clearly sending a mandate to state lawmakers that they want these policies to be passed.
Evangel Penumaka (@evangelpenumaka) is a lead analyst at Data for Progress.
Tenneth Fairclough II (@tenten_wins) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.