Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Economic Development Incentives

A poll conducted last month finds more than 70-percent of Oklahoman likely voters support tax incentives that create new investment or new jobs. The SoonerPoll results show that the support crosses all party lines and is present in all five congressional districts.

“The results are clear: Oklahomans support economic development incentives,” said State Chamber of Oklahoma President & CEO Fred Morgan. “This isn’t a partisan issue, it’s a jobs issue and Oklahomans overwhelmingly support policies that create jobs.”

The poll of more than 400 Oklahomans between December 8th and 19th shows 70.5% either strongly support or somewhat support the use of tax incentives that create new investment in Oklahoma. When asked about tax incentives that create jobs in Oklahoma, the margin strongly or somewhat supporting jumps to 76.9%. The poll has a margin of error of ±4.88%.

[QUESTION] Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE the use of tax incentives that create new investment in Oklahoma?

1. Strongly support 43.0%
2. Somewhat support 27.5
3. Neutral/no opinion/refused [DNR] 8.1
4. Somewhat oppose 10.3
5. Strongly oppose 11.1

“This is a significant poll with unambiguous results,” said Bill Shapard, founder of SoonerPoll. “When you see poll results like this, there can be no doubt about where Oklahomans stand on an issue.”

[QUESTION] Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE the use of tax incentives that create new jobs in Oklahoma?

1. Strongly support 50.5
2. Somewhat support 26.4
3. Neutral/no opinion/refused [DNR] 6.3
4. Somewhat oppose 7.6
5. Strongly oppose 9.2

The fact that Oklahomans support tax incentives that create new investment and jobs is no surprise to those whose job it is to grow and attract jobs to communities around the state.

“The most important thing for decision-makers to think about when looking at tax credits is whether this will affect our competitiveness with surrounding states,” said Brent Kisling, chairman of the Oklahoma Economic Development Council and the Executive Director of the Enid Regional Development Alliance. “After a decade in the economic development field, I know jobs and capital investment are essential to making sure we have the resources needed for all aspects of government.”

About the Poll

The poll of 403 likely voters in Oklahoma was conducted Dec 8-19, 2014 by SoonerPoll.com and commissioned by the State Chamber of Oklahoma. The probability sample included 88 cellphone and 318 landline users. The margin of error is ±4.88 percentage points.

Poll results were weighted by age and congressional district, stratified by Oklahoma likely voters statewide. This poll conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. A complete description of the methodology can be found here.

The poll's Call Disposition and Rate Calculation report can be viewed here.