December 12th, 2010 – by Glen Farmer
A poll by Public Policy Polling has shown surprising results – Minnesota voters would, according to the survey, rather watch the Vikings leave than pay for a new stadium through a tax hike.
Equally surprising was the fact that voters would be more comfortable with expanded gambling in the state if it were to pay for the stadium and avoid a general tax increase.
All over the United States, casinos are being legalized in order to provide new streams of tax revenue for the respective state. The taxes, rather than affecting everyone within the state, would be essentially an optional tax for those who would enjoy casino gaming.
Pennsylvania is one state that has shown how successful this can be. The recent legalization of table games has reinvigorated the gambling revenue of the state.
The poll showed that 61 percent of voters oppose paying for a stadium with new tax dollars, while 28 percent were in favor and 11 percent were undecided. The consequence of losing the team changed this to 49 percent opposed to a tax hike, 35 percent who support, and 16 percent undecided.
The gambling expansion question garnered 62 percent of polled voters in favor, while 25 percent were opposed. The rest were undecided.