ABC27 WHTM Poll: Most oppose bankruptcy for Harrisburg
Member Center:
Most Harrisburg voters do not believe bankruptcy is the city's best option for fiscal recovery, and many have little or no confidence that Mayor Linda Thompson and City Council can solve the financial situation alone, according to a new poll.
The poll conducted by Harrisburg-based Susquehanna Polling and Research for abc27 News found that only 13 percent of city residents favored bankruptcy as an option, while 24 percent supported state intervention.
The majority, 53 percent, said the mayor and Council should seek a compromise before the state enacts takeover legislation.
Only 11 percent had a lot of confidence in Thompson's ability to solve the crisis alone, while 59 percent had little or no confidence. Just eight percent of residents had a lot of confidence in Council, while 41 percent had little or no confidence.
When asked if they would be willing to pay more in taxes or fees, 29 percent of city residents said they would pay more and 35 percent of respondents said they would not.
Many in the city, 42 percent, said former Mayor Stephen Reed is most at fault for Harrisburg's financial problems, while 29 percent blamed Thompson and 12 percent pointed the finger at Council.
The telephone survey of 946 registered voters in the city was conducted Oct. 6-8 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.
The survey also polled 855 voters in other parts of Dauphin County as well as voters in both Cumberland and Perry counties, who had different opinions on how to solve the fiscal mess and who is most at fault.
Those outside the city limits favored state intervention by 41 percent and another 37 percent said the mayor and Council should seek a compromise. Only 10 percent favored bankruptcy as the best option.
Most non-residents, 44 percent, blamed Thompson for the fiscal crisis, and 85 percent had little or no confidence in the mayor's ability to solve the problems. Another 23 percent blamed Reed and 18 percent blamed Council, and 55 percent had little or no confidence in council members.
A majority of those in the surrounding area, 53 percent, said they would not be willing to pay more taxes or fees in order to help the city, while 17 percent said they would be willing to pay more.
The survey results are as follows:
| How closely are you following developments in Harrisburg regarding the city's financial condition including proposed plans by the state to take over the city's financial operations? | ||||
| Harrisburg | Other | |||
| Closely following these events | 803 | 45% | 55% | 34% |
| Somewhat following these events | 834 | 46% | 37% | 57% |
| Not following these events | 164 | 9% | 8% | 10% |
| Now that Harrisburg City Council has twice rejected a financial recovery plan, what should be the best option for the city? | ||||
| Harrisburg | Other | |||
| The state should take over | 580 | 32% | 24% | 41% |
| Harrisburg should declare bankruptcy | 201 | 11% | 13% | 10% |
| Mayor and Council should seek compromise | 826 | 46% | 53% | 37% |
| None of the above | 194 | 11% | 10% | 12% |
| Who do you most blame for Harrisburg's precarious financial situation – current Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson, former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, Harrisburg City Council, officials at the county level, or someone else? | ||||
| Harrisburg | Other | |||
| Mayor Linda Thompson | 650 | 36% | 29% | 44% |
| Former Mayor Steve Reed | 601 | 33% | 42% | 23% |
| Harrisburg City Council | 274 | 15% | 12% | 18% |
| Officials at the county level | 76 | 04% | 05% | 04% |
| Someone else | 33 | 02% | 02% | 02% |
| Undecided | 167 | 09% | 10% | 08% |
| How much confidence do you have in Mayor Linda Thompson's ability to solve the city's financial situation? | ||||
| Harrisburg | Other | |||
| A lot of confidence | 122 | 7% | 11% | 2% |
| Some confidence | 304 | 17% | 24% | 9% |
| Little or no confidence | 1287 | 71% | 59% | 85% |
| Undecided | 88 | 5% | 7% | 3% |
| How much confidence do you have in the ability of Harrisburg City Council to solve the city's financial situation? | ||||
| Harrisburg | Other | |||
| A lot of confidence | 91 | 5% | 8% | 2% |
| Some confidence | 669 | 37% | 40% | 34% |
| Little or no confidence | 855 | 47% | 41% | 55% |
| Undecided | 186 | 10% | 11% | 9% |
| Are you willing to pay a little more in either taxes or fees if it means Harrisburg's financial situation could be resolved in the long term interests of both city residents and surrounding communities? | ||||
| Harrisburg | Other | |||
| Yes | 418 | 23% | 29% | 17% |
| No | 789 | 44% | 35% | 53% |
| Undecided | 594 |
33% |
36% | 29% |
| Demographics |
||||
| Male |
810 |
45% |
42% |
48% |
| Female |
991 |
55% |
58% |
52% |
| Caucasian |
1143 |
63% |
41% |
88% |
| African-American |
455 |
25% |
44% |
4% |
| Hispanic |
44 |
2% |
4% |
1% |
| Other |
60 |
3% |
4% |
2% |
| Refuse |
99 |
5% |
6% |
5% |
| Republican |
607 |
34% |
17% |
52% |
| Democrat |
1046 |
58% |
76% |
38% |
| Independent |
148 |
8% |
7% |
9% |
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