N.J. poll: Mixed feelings on Corzine's budget plan

TRENTON - A new poll finds many New Jerseyans aren't sold on Gov. Corzine's proposed state budget.

The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll out yesterday found that more than 80 percent of respondents had heard about the spending plan. Nearly half said it does too little to cut spending; 17 percent said it cuts too much.

However, respondents differed on how to address the state's fiscal woes.

Seventy-five percent overall supported plans to boost income taxes on those earning more than $500,000 and 69 percent backed higher taxes on cigarettes and liquor. But 68 percent didn't want to cut state aid to municipalities and 63 percent opposed trimming arts funding.

The poll also found that 53 percent opposed ending property-tax rebates for those earning more than $75,000, and that 45 percent supported it.

The telephone poll was conducted April 23-27 with 803 New Jersey adults and had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. - AP