(KWQC) — CARBONDALE, Illinois – With the general election just four weeks away, a new poll asks people in Illinois if they would stay or if they would go. The poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University found that 47 percent of respondents say they would like to move and 51 percent prefer to remain in the state. Less than 2 percent said they didn’t know. But, when asked if it was somewhat likely or likely they would leave the state in the coming year, nearly 80 percent said it was unlikely.
Taxes are the single biggest reason people want to leave, the weather is next, followed by government and jobs. Specifically, 27 percent cite taxes as the motive for departing, 16 percent say weather, 15 percent cite government and 13 percent name jobs and education.
“Not much can be done about the weather but policy makers can do something about perceptions of the quality of services, tax competitiveness, tax fairness and educational and job opportunities,” said David Yepsen, director of the institute.
