Poll of California Small Business Owners Shows Opposition to Tax Increases, Paid Sick Leave Mandate

Small business owners are strongly opposed to mandates requiring higher taxes and mandatory paid sick leave, according to a poll released today by NFIB/California.

Each year, we poll our members on issues vital to their survival as entrepreneurs at both the state and federal level.

When asked if California should require employers to provide paid time off for employees’ personal illnesses or to care for a family member, more than 90 percent responded ‘no’, slightly more than 3 percent responded ‘yes’ and more than 2 percent were undecided.

California small business owners also strongly opposed proposals to tax commercial property at a different rate than residential property. More than 86 percent said ‘no’, 3 percent responded ‘yes’ and more than 2 percent were undecided.

Finally, when polled as to whether California should replace the state sales tax with a European-style value-added tax, more than 80 percent responded ‘no’.  Another 4 percent responded ‘yes’ and 13 percent were undecided.

“These numbers underscore Main Street concerns that now is not the time for new taxes, mandates or additional burdens to be placed on small businesses,” said John Kabateck, NFIB/California executive director. “Small business owners overwhelmingly oppose new and unanticipated costs as the way out of a recession and believe that government should be doing everything possible to provide incentives and support to create jobs.”