Poll: Gov. Scott Remains Unpopular in Capital City

The results of a local public survey echo the disdain many Floridians have for their embattled governor.

Kerr and Downs, a Tallahassee-based market research firm, released a survey earlier this month on Tallahasseevoices.com, in which 523 city residents responded. On the whole, the results of the survey revealed Tallahasseans are overwhelmingly displeased with a number of Gov. Rick Scott’s policy proposals.

Fifty four percent of citizens disagree with a plan to have public sector workers contribute 5 percent of their earnings to their pensions; while 56 percent of the private sector workers surveyed agree with the measure. Residents are largely against ending the Deferred Retirement Option Program for new state hires, with 61 percent dissenting. Over 70 percent disapprove of a measure that would cap state employee’s contribution to health insurance at $5,000 annually.

Seventy percent are opposed to the elimination of 8,600 state jobs, including 2,000 vacant ones, in a city where the public sector represent 64 percent of the economy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result of Scott doing away with state jobs, 53 percent believe Tallahassee’s economy will suffer. Residents wildly agree that state government workers are being unfairly punished with Scott’s proposals. Seventy six percent agree that with state workers not receiving pay raises since 2006 creates hardships for the public sector.

Women are most against Scott’s policies at 57 percent, while 43 percent of men disagree. Sixty five percent of whites and 30 percent of blacks in the city disagree with the governor’s policies, a close reflection of Tallahassee’s racial demographic.