SURVEY: VOTERS FAVOR PROP B, UTILITY PURCHASE

Local voters surveyed this week voiced support for Proposition B and the Cape Girardeau utility measures on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The survey, commissioned by the Southeast Missourian newspaper, was conducted by students in the marketing department at Southeast Missouri State University under the direction of Peter Gordon.

Voters were asked about Proposition B, a statewide tax-and-reform package that would raise $385 million for education.

Cape Girardeau voters were also asked about the city's proposed purchase of the water system from Union Electric and 20-year franchise agreements for Union Electric to operate electric and natural gas utilities.

In all, 109 area residents, who identified themselves as registered voters, were randomly selected from the telephone directory. The margin of error for the survey is 7 percentage points.

Respondents were asked how they would vote on Proposition B: 35.8 percent (39 voters) said they would vote yes, 22.9 percent (25) said they would vote no, and 41.3 percent (45) were undecided.

If the undecided voters are eliminated from the sample, the survey showed that 60.9 percent support Proposition B and 39.1 percent oppose it.

The survey also showed that Cape Girardeau area voters were slightly more likely to have an opinion on Proposition B and were slightly more supportive of the measure than those living in Jackson, Scott City or outlying areas.

Of the Cape Girardeau area voters, 39.7 percent said they would vote for Proposition B, 22.1 percent said they would vote against it, and 38.2 percent said they were undecided.

Leaving out the undecided individuals, 64.3 percent said yes, and 35.7 percent said no.

The survey also indicated that men were slightly more likely to vote no (45 percent yes to 55 percent no). Women were more likely to vote yes by a margin of more than 2-1 (69 percent yes to 31 percent no).

The survey also questioned 67 Cape Girardeau respondents about city utility issues on the November ballot.

Voters in Cape Girardeau will be asked to approve $11.8 million in revenue bonds to buy and improve the water system now owned by Union Electric.

Overall, 28 (42 percent) of the 68 city respondents said yes, while 10 (15 percent) said no, and 29 (43 percent) were undecided.

Eliminating the undecided individuals resulted in 74 percent of respondents in favor of the measure and 26 percent opposing it.

Women favored the issue by a ratio of 3 to 1. Men were in favor by 2.5 to 1.

Respondents were also asked how they intend to vote on new 20-year franchise agreements with Union Electric for the operation of electric and natural gas utilities.

Of the 67 city voters, 28 (42 percent) said they would vote yes, 13 (19 percent) said no, and 26 (39 percent) were undecided.

Eliminating the undecided voters, 68 percent of respondents favored the franchise agreement and 32 percent were against it.

Women favor the franchise agreements by almost 2.5 to 1; men were in favor by a margin of 1.8 to 1.