A new Siena College poll shows that New York State voters trust their local governments more than they do the state or federal governments.
The survey shows that 28 percent of voters trust the state or federal government to do what is right, at least most of the time, while 43 percent trust their local government most or all of the time.
The poll was sponsored by the New York Conference of Mayors, New York State Association of Counties and the Association of Towns of the State of New York.
By a 70 to 20 percent margin, voters say local government is better at understanding and responding to voter needs. And by a 54 to 30 percent margin, those surveyed say that local government is better than the state at effectively protecting and managing tax dollars. Upstate residents are most inclined to prefer the work of local government over the state, while New York City voters are more evenly divided, especially on getting things done and managing tax dollars.
“When asked whether they would like to increase, decrease or keep spending unchanged on local services, only schools, 51 percent, and public works, 50 percent, receive the backing of a majority calling for increased spending,” according to Don Levy, Director of the Siena Research Institute..
“Still, when spending more and increasing services are specifically tied to higher taxes, 51 percent say keep both taxes and services about the same, one-third call for providing fewer governmental services and lower taxes, while only one in eight say they would like more government services and higher taxes in order to pay for them, “ Levy said
