The first part of the USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey, focusing on the economy and the environment, was released yesterday.
The Sunshine State Survey is the most anticipated nonpolitical survey which gathers Floridians opinions on a wide range of economic, social and emerging issues.
The results showed nearly two-thirds of Floridians are feeling financial stress in their own households. The top threats to the state's economy, according to the survey, are the lack of well-paying jobs, government waste, taxes and regulations and illegal immigration.
The top reported environmental problems facing the state are related to water problems, followed by the loss of wildlife habitat and climate change or global warming.
The goal of this annual survey is to provide the state's government, business and not-for-profit-leaders, as well as citizens, an in-depth analysis of public opinion on a wide range of issues.
The survey is a joint effort by USF and Nielsen, created in 2006, under the direction of distinguished University of South Florida Political Scientist, Dr. Susan MacManus.
MacManus says government officials and businesses look forward to the results and rely on the information found in this survey.
"You certainly can see both private and public individuals and businesses taking a look at this data and deciding how to push their case one way or another about a key issue," MacManus said.
The seven most-cited issues in the survey this year are (in descending order): economy and jobs, environment, crime and policing, education and schools, health care, government officials and immigration.
The rest of the Sunshine State Survey results will be released over the next three weeks.
To find out more about the survey and to look at the results, visit http://sunshinestatesurvey.org/
