FDU Poll: New Jersey voters narrowly support pet tax credit, oppose easier liquor licenses for movie theaters
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey voters narrowly support a proposed state tax credit for pet owners but largely oppose allowing movie theaters to more easily obtain liquor licenses, according to the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll.
The survey found 45% of registered voters support a proposal that would provide pet owners with a $300 state tax credit and up to $600 more for veterinary care, while 41% oppose the measure.
The proposal is outlined in Assembly Bill 4995, sponsored by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, R-Ocean.
“Some people do think of their pets as being like children,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and executive director of the FDU Poll. “So the logic is that if children get a tax credit, pets should as well.”
Support for the proposal was slightly higher among Democrats and younger voters.
“There are reasonable questions to be asked about how regressive such a tax break would be,” Cassino said. “But people have pets, and people like money, so theories of taxation probably aren’t coming into how they’re thinking about this.”
The poll also asked voters about Assembly Bill 4666, which would allow movie theaters to more easily acquire liquor licenses to sell alcoholic beverages.
Under the legislation, theaters could obtain liquor licenses for between $150,000 and $210,000, regardless of whether additional licenses are available in the municipality where they operate. Supporters argue alcohol sales would help theaters remain financially viable as attendance continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, while opponents say the proposal could reduce the value of liquor licenses already purchased by restaurants and other businesses.
The survey found 55% of voters oppose the proposal, while 38% support it.
Support for the measure did not vary significantly by political party but was higher among middle-aged voters and lower among older residents.
The poll was conducted June 23-30 among 1,211 registered New Jersey voters using text-to-web surveys. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, accounting for weighting.
