San Franciscans are growing more confident about The City’s economy and support tax breaks for companies that create jobs, according to a new poll released by the Chamber of Commerce today.
Overall, nearly 60 percent of people said San Francisco is “going in the right direction,” compared with only 44 percent who perceived forward progress in 2011 and just 29 percent who felt that way in 2010. And while 45 percent of residents still feel the economy is getting worse, 26 percent say it’s getting better — more than double the number of people who responded positively in 2011.
Chamber of Commerce President Steve Falk said job creation remains at the forefront of economic needs, and residents support new taxes only if they include an incentive to provide more work opportunities. While tax breaks for job creators were favored by more than 60 percent of respondents, no consumer taxes covered by the poll received a majority of support.
The sentiment comes on the heels of the so-called “Twitter tax break” that eliminated payroll taxes in The City’s Mid Market area last year to entice the growing microblogging company to stay in town.
“The City is going to get back 20 times more in revenue that they would have in payroll tax,” Falk said. “We have to get smart about economic growth as a way to raise revenue, not taxes.”
Other problems remain, however, including the state of public schools and homelessness. Along with jobs, those issues topped the list of major problems facing The City. Panhandling was respondents’ top concern.
“In a city where we depend on visitors and the impression we give to visitors, homelessness is not just a nagging issue, it’s an economic issue,” Falk said.
Mayor Ed Lee received a 68 percent favorable rating, compared to 16 percent who don’t care for the newly elected municipal chief. In 2011, Lee received 56 percent support, with only 3 percent viewing him unfavorably.
The poll, released this morning for the chamber’s annual CityBeat Breakfast, was conducted earlier this month with input from 500 San Francisco voters.
dschreiber@sfexaminer.com
San Francisco is headed in
The right direction
2012: 58 percent
2011: 44 percent
2010: 29 percent
The wrong direction
2012: 25 percent
2011: 32 percent
2010: 51 percent
Quality of life in San Francisco is getting
Better
2012: 17 percent
2011: 15 percent
2010: 9 percent
Worse
2012: 28 percent
2011: 34 percent
2010: 47 percent
Major issues facing The City
Homelessness: 27 percent
Economy and jobs: 24 percent
Education: 20 percent
Muni 13: percent
Crime 12: percent
City budget: 10 percent
Tax reforms
Payroll tax exemption for businesses that create new jobs
Support: 61 percent
Oppose: 31 percent
Payroll tax decrease from 1.5 percent to 1 percent
Support: 57 percent
Oppose: 29 percent
Elimination of payroll tax, replacing lost revenue with higher business license fees and other business taxes
Support: 25 percent
Oppose: 58 percent
Tax increases
$3 fee to drive in/out of downtown
Support: 23 percent
Oppose: 75 percent
Increase parking tax from 25 percent to 30 percent
Support: 29 percent
Oppose: 60 percent
One-half percent increase in city sales tax
Support: 40 percent
Oppose: 58 percent
7 percent residential utility tax
Support: 15 percent
Oppose: 81 percent
New tax on commercial rents
Support: 36 percent
Oppose: 53 percent
Increasing the business license fee by $100 to $7,500 annually
Support: 34 percent
Oppose: 55 percent
Election formats
Prefer runoff elections
2012: 58 percent
2011: 52 percent
Prefer ranked-choice voting
2012: 31 percent
2011: 42 percent
