People from Louisiana are all for helping their fellow man. However, the majority of Louisiana residents feel that we pay enough in taxes that we should not have to help the state government out of a financial jam.

The state of Louisiana has a huge budgetary deficit this fiscal year and Governor John Bel Edwards wants to pass a huge tax increase for the residents of Louisiana. Getting this tax increase to pass is not going to be an easy task. According to a new poll the majority of Louisiana residents are opposed to increasing taxes to help state government solve this problem.

Southern media and opinion research conducted a poll of 500 likely voters to find out their opinion on raising taxes to help state government, 72% of those polled said no to raising taxes and fees.

According to an interview done by the Louisiana radio network Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says that’s because state government has lost credibility with the people of Louisiana.

“Eighty percent of Louisiana does not trust government to spend their money properly,” Pinsonat said.

Pinsonat says his poll also shows 61% of the voters say the state government is spending too much money. He says the results from survey could make it tough for the governor to push for higher taxes...

“The biggest problem facing the legislature and the governor is the people out there don’t believe there’s a revenue problem,” Pinsonat said.

Louisiana voters were asked how they felt about certain taxes and most of the people were not in favor of raising income and state sales taxes, but according to Pinsonat over 60% were in favor of increasing the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.

“You can expect the legislature to go after the so-called sin tax,” Pinsonat said.

Pinsonat says “sin taxes” are the easiest to pass, however he is uncertain if the increase in the "sin taxes" would generate the needed revenue. Pinsonat says that the public is wary of raising taxes because of the effect it will have on the businesses and the economy. The poll also said fifty-four percent of people feel the state can balance the budget without raising taxes.

More From 96.5 KVKI