Poll shows House GOP support for sales, business tax hikes

? An informal poll of GOP House members shows modest sales tax increases could be the most popular option for filling the state’s budget shortfall.

The chamber’s GOP leadership released the poll results during a Monday meeting. It showed that members remain divided on how to fill a projected budget gap of $406 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Roughly half support hiking the state sales tax to 6.5 percent from 6.15 percent. About half also said they support a 2.7 percent tax on the net incomes from some businesses that were exempted in 2012.

Deadlock over tax proposals has pushed the Republican-dominated Legislature into overtime. Today is the 102nd day of the session and only two sessions have lasted longer in the history of the state.