Key Findings
- 30,000-foot view: New Yorkers see waste, fraud, and abuse as a top-tier, bipartisan crisis rooted in mismanagement more than malice and they’re united behind giving government more oversight, even if they can’t agree on who exactly to hold accountable.
- Adults 25-34 are the least concerned age group (76%) about fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars in New York state government, give the issue the lowest priority (57%), are the only age group to nearly breakeven on confidence in state government (net -2), and are most likely to believe fraud is already being stopped (39%).
- “Mismanagement” unifies voters; “fraud” polarizes them. Democrats rate poor management almost as high a cost driver as Republicans do (net +63 vs. +88, a 25-point gap) but split far more sharply on intentional fraud (+34 vs. +85, a 51-point gap). Education shows the same pattern at a lower intensity: the gap between degree holders and non-degree holders roughly doubles too, from 11 points on mismanagement (+70 vs. +81) to 21 points on fraud (+47 vs. +68).
- Despite lower exposure to having seen, read, or heard something about waste, fraud, or abuse involving taxpayer money in government programs than Republicans (64% vs. 80% have heard something recently), Independents react strongest if they were exposed (net +93 more concerned), which outpaces the concern of both Republicans (+86) and Democrats (+71) exposed.
- Every subgroup except Democrats is net-negative (net +10) on their confidence that the New York state government is currently doing enough to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Independents are more negative on this (net -53) than their concern levels alone would predict.
- Nearly 8 in 10 voters agree that the New York state government needs stronger oversight and accountability measures to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent effectively. This message tested net positive with all the subgroups. Even the least-concerned age group (25-34) and the most institutionally trusting party (Democrats) back it by the same net +44.
