A staggering percentage of registered voters are in support of a half-cent sales tax increase to fund the replacement and repair of schools, a new poll shows.

The poll, conducted by the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) at UNF, shows that about 75 percent of registered voters in Duval County support a sales tax increase in order to help fund schools. Support amongst Democrats is very strong, sitting at 86 percent, but the majority of Republicans (60 percent) also support the increase.

The survey also asked several other questions, such as what residents of Jacksonville feel is the most pressing issue in the city. Crime is the general consensus, with 45 percent of people giving it as an answer. Education falls in second place at 16 percent.

Recently, the Duval County School Board voted to have a special election to decide if the increase in sales tax will be approved. The Jacksonville City Council will vote on June 25 on the timing of the election, which could possibly be in November of 2019 in a special election or November of 2020 in the general election.

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