Clark County Residents Weigh In on Some Important Issues in a New Survey Conducted by Precision Opinion

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nevada’s Clark County residents of voting age were recently polled and shown to possess very strong views on current conditions and the future of education, labor, sports and the Mob Museum.

“While keeping my finger on the pulse of the people of Nevada and occasionally taking their temperatures, I consistently find a thoughtful and decisive electorate who, it is safe to say, are decidedly not shy”

Overall, most agree the quality of pubic education K-12 is not good and that taxes and a lottery might help; unions are looked upon favorably, especially if you’re a Democrat. There is very strong interest and support of major league sports in Las Vegas and hardly anybody thinks the proposed Mob Museum glorifies crime and criminals.

“While keeping my finger on the pulse of the people of Nevada and occasionally taking their temperatures, I consistently find a thoughtful and decisive electorate who, it is safe to say, are decidedly not shy,” said James T. Medick, CEO of Precision Opinion, whose opinion research firm conducted the random digit dial telephone survey.

Highlighted by subject, here’s what Las Vegans are thinking, feeling and saying:

Education

• Three out of four respondents rated the quality of K through 12, in Clark County, as either Fair or Poor. And 19% blamed that rating on parents of students.
• Seventy percent said they do not think enough money is spent on K through 12 education in the county.

What to do?

• When asked if they would support a sales tax increase for education, 28% strongly supported the idea.
• Seemingly, looking toward the future, 63% of respondents 30 years of age or younger would strongly or somewhat support the increase.
• When asked if they would support a state income tax to fund education, 51% said they would. Again, the strongest level of support came from those under 30 years of age, 78%. And 54% of those aged 30-50 support a state income tax measure to fund education.
• Asked if corporations should be allowed to sponsor schools by selling advertising space in yearbooks, 64% of the overall respondents supported the advertising concept with an even level of support across party lines and age groupings.

Something they almost all could agree on?

• When asked if they’d support a state lottery for education funding, 76% said they would, with support fairly level among political party affiliation and age.

Labor Unions

Whether a member of a union or not, unions are seen in a favorable light.

• Overall, 63% of the respondents are favorable toward labor unions.
• Of the various labor unions in Las Vegas, the Culinary, F&B and Hotel unions received 73% favorability; Police and State Troopers, 71% favorability; Teachers, 70% favorability; and Firefighters rated 63% favorability.
• Nearly one-third of respondents belong or belonged or have/had a family member in a union. Of those who belong or belonged to a union, 78% are favorable to them as were 55% who have not belonged.

Except for Republicans.

• Among Democrats, 88% strongly support unions while only 28% of Republicans show favorability.

Sports in Clark County

• Sixty percent of respondents support the building of a sport stadium on the downtown Union Pacific land. Here’s how they’d buy tickets, or not:
  • 60% would buy tickets for NFL games
  • 53% would buy tickets for MLB games
  • 49% would buy tickets for NBA games
  • 31% would not purchase tickets for any game

About UNLV Sports

• Overall, 8 out of 10 agree it is important to have a successful athletic program at UNLV with 41% saying it was extremely so.

• Of those who agree the athletic program is important, 91% feel UNLV has the right basketball coach in place, 78% support the baseball coach and 67% support the football coach.
• Seventy-three percent support the Majestic Realty 150 acre mixed use project including a 42,000 seat campus stadium, with support across party lines and age groupings.

Mob Museum and More

• Respondents showed support for the Mob Museum concept with 64% of them not believing the museum would glorify crime or criminals, while 34% are concerned.
• Fifty-six percent do not want to extend the city limits as a way to increase local tax base.
• Sixty-three percent are in favor of state laws to eliminate the myriad of HOAs.
• Ninety-eight percent of the respondents believe that the average gambler loses.

A total of 500 adults participated in the telephone survey, producing a margin of error of +/- 4.38% at a 95% confidence interval.