At first glance, the results of a recent public opinion poll are good news for California Gov. Jerry Brown. An overwhelming majority (68 percent of likely voters) support Brown's idea to raise taxes on the wealthy for five years to increase revenue for K-12 education. Even a 53 percent majority of Republicans support the proposal. 

Jerry Brown (Randy Bayne, via Creative Commons)

But it's not that simple.

The poll, conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, suggests a slimmer majority - 64 percent - support a sales tax hike and less than half - 48 percent - support Brown's entire plan, including raised taxes and cuts to services.

The tax hikes, along with spending cuts in welfare, child care, Medi-Cal and other services that were cut in last year's lengthy budget battle, are part of Brown's plan to close a multi-billion dollar budget gap in the state. The poll shows that a majority oppose those cuts.

The plan will require voter approval and will go before California voters as a ballot initiative in November. If the initiative fails, Brown has said, it will trigger automatic cuts to public schools.

The poll shows that an overwhelming 75 percent of likely voters oppose the $4.8 billion trigger cuts.

Writing for KQED, John Myers notes this may indicate that support for the initiative is founded not in a thirst for higher taxes but a fear in what more cuts to education could mean. [...] it's probably not Brown's proposal that they love so much... but rather the consequences of its failure that they hate," Meyer writes.

Brown has recently embarked on a tour of California's anti-tax Republican-leaning areas, including Orange County, soliciting the support of business organizations. 

According to the L.A. Times, Brown received some support from business leaders in Orange, but hit a dead end in San Diego.

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