Dates
March 12-18, 2024
Survey Type
Dual-mode Voter Survey
Research Population
Likely November 2024 Voters in Visalia
Total Interviews
688
Margin of Sampling Error
(Full Sample) ±4.4% at the 95% Confidence Level
(Half Sample) ±5.7% at the 95% Confidence Level
Contact Methods
Data Collection Modes
Survey Tracking
2015 and 2016
Languages
English and Spanish
(Note: Not All Results Will Sum to 100% Due to Rounding) Text
Invitations
Telephone
Calls
Email
Invitations
Telephone
Interviews
Online
Interviews
Survey Methodology
Issue Context
Q. Would you say that things in the City of Visalia are generally headed in the right direction or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track? A majority feel positively about the direction of the city, but the mood has worsened since 2016.
Q. In your personal opinion, do you think the City of Visalia has a great need for additional funding, some need, a little need, or no real need for additional funds to provide the level of City services that Visalia residents need and want? Great/Some Need
A Little/No Real Need
74%
19%
61%
32%
Nearly three quarters perceive a need for funding for city services.
Q.
Most are unaware that it is currently illegal to sell cannabis products in Visalia.
Now changing topic slightly. As far as you know,is it legal to sell cannabis products in the City of Visalia?
Total Supp.
Total Opp.
62%
35%
62%
32%
57%
39%
A majority support allowing cannabis-related businesses to operate in Visalia.
Q. I am now going to mention various cannabis related businesses. Please tell me if it sounds like something you would support or oppose in theCity of Visalia. Any of these potential uses may also be subject to regulations the City can make such as location or hours of operation, and may includerelated fees. (Ranked by Total Support)
Introducing the Measure
Ballot Language
Q. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample With Mandate
No Mandate
Shall the measure to fund, for general governmental uses, services such as: maintaining emergency response times; supporting youth programs; helping attract businesses; cleaning public areas;addressing homelessness; by taxing cannabis businesses’ gross receipts not exceeding 10% on retail, delivery, manufacturing/testing; raising approximately $1,000,000 annually, requiring spending disclosures, and which would only be levied if state law imposes mandates or the city approves an ordinance allowing such businesses, lasting until ended by voters, be adopted? Shall the measure to fund, for general governmental uses, services such as: maintaining emergency response times; neighborhood police patrols;supporting youth programs; helping retain and attract businesses; keeping public areas safe and clean;addressing homelessness; by taxing cannabis businesses’ gross receipts not exceeding 10% on retail, delivery, manufacturing, and testing;raising approximately $1,000,000 annually, until ended by voters, requiring audits, spending disclosures, and that cannabis businesses follow public health and safety requirements, be adopted?
Q. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample Initial Vote(With Mandate)
Initial Vote(No Mandate)
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total Yes66%
Total Yes67%
62%
62%
Total No27%
Total No30%
Two-thirds support the proposed measure, both with and without mention of a state or local mandate. (Each Measure - M.O.E=±5.7%)
Majority support cuts across the City’s Council Districts. (% of Sample)
(22%)
(23%)
(23%)
Initial Vote by City Council District
(17%)
Q Combined. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? (15%)
Those who perceive a need for funding are more likely to vote “yes” than those who do not.
Q Combined. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? (% of Sample)
(43%)
(74%)
(19%)
Initial Vote by Need for Funding
(31%)
(7%)
Priority Features of the Measure
Ext./Very Impt.
92%
91%
89%
88%
87%
85%
85%
Q. The proposed ballot measure you considered earlier has not yet been finalized. Now I’m going to read you a list of services, infrastructure projects and provisions that could be included in this measure. Please tell me how important that service, infrastructure project or provision is to you personally:Is it extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important? ^Not Part of Split Sample Addressing homelessness, maintaining emergency response times and keeping public areas safe and clean are the top funding priorities. (Ranked by Extremely/Very Important)
Ext./Very Impt.
84%
84%
84%
83%
82%
82%
82%
Q. The proposed ballot measure you considered earlier has not yet been finalized. Now I’m going to read you a list of services, infrastructure projects and provisions that could be included in this measure. Please tell me how important that service, infrastructure project or provision is to you personally:Is it extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important? ^Not Part of Split Sample More than four in five say safe routes to school and gang prevention are important. ^Requiring cannabis businessesfollow laws protecting public health,safety and community standards (Ranked by Extremely/Very Important)
Ext./Very Impt.
82%
80%
79%
79%
77%
77%
76%
Q. The proposed ballot measure you considered earlier has not yet been finalized. Now I’m going to read you a list of services, infrastructure projects and provisions that could be included in this measure. Please tell me how important that service, infrastructure project or provision is to you personally:Is it extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important? ^Not Part of Split Sample Voters also widely view retaining firefighters and supporting youth programs as important. (Ranked by Extremely/Very Important)
Ext./Very Impt.
75%
75%
74%
73%
70%
66%
64%
Q. The proposed ballot measure you considered earlier has not yet been finalized. Now I’m going to read you a list of services, infrastructure projects and provisions that could be included in this measure. Please tell me how important that service, infrastructure project or provision is to you personally:Is it extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important? ^Not Part of Split Sample Helping attract businesses ranks lowest as a relative priority, although a majority support it. (Ranked by Extremely/Very Important)
Impact of Information
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total Yes66%
62%
Initial Vote
Vote AfterEducation
Total Yes74%
Total Yes64%
68%
60%
Support for the measure with the mandate language fluctuates with messaging, but remains above 50% throughout the survey.
Q. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample Total No27%
Total No21%
Total No28%
Vote AfterNegative Messages
(With Mandate; M.O.E=±5.7%)
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total Yes67%
62%
Initial Vote
Vote AfterEducation
Total Yes71%
Total Yes66%
66%
60%
Q. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample Total No30%
Total No24%
Total No28%
The version that does not mention the mandate also remains well-above 50% after messaging.
Vote AfterNegative Messages
(No Mandate; M.O.E=±5.7%)
Vote progression With and Without Mandate
Q. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? Split SampleQ. Based on this description, would you vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample Total Yes
Total No
Undecided
Mandate
No Mandate
(M.O.E=±5.7%)
Conclusions
Conclusions
The proposed measure to tax cannabis businesses in Visalia appears viable for November 2024.
The measure receives broad and consistent support among the electorate, regardless of whether or not a state mandate is mentioned in the ballot language.
Although many are uncertain about whether it is legal or not to sell cannabis in Visalia, majorities support allowing cannabis business activity.
Additionally, nearly three-quarters perceive a need for funding for city services.
In that context, nearly two-thirds support the proposed simple majority measure initially.
Voters place the greatest priority on addressing homelessness, maintaining emergency response times, keeping public areas safe and clean, and preventing property crime.
Support fluctuates with messaging, but remains well-above the 50% threshold for passage throughout the survey.