Field Poll shows Gov. Jerry Brown's tax plan hangs in balance

A new Field Poll shows Gov. Jerry Brown's tax-hike measure with less than 50% support, another sign that the election will be a close call for the governor.

The poll, released Thursday, said 48% of likely voters plan to cast ballots for the measure, while 38% are opposed. Fourteen percent said they were undecided.

In September, the poll said 51% of likely voters backed Brown's tax plan, Proposition 30.

The measure would increase the sales tax by a quarter cent for four years and income taxes on the wealthy by one to three percentage points for seven years. Without new tax revenue, Brown says there will be nearly $6 billion in budget cuts, mostly to public schools.

A number of polls have recently shown support for Brown's tax plan dropping below 50% support.

A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll said showed 46% of registered voters planning to support Proposition 30, down nine points. And another poll from the Public Policy Institute of California said the tax plan had 48% support.

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-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento
twitter.com/chrismegerian

Photo: Gov. Jerry Brown, speaking in Los Angeles on Wednesday, warns of painful cuts if voters reject his tax-hike plan, Proposition 30. Credit: Nick Ut / Associated Press