Poll: Broad Support For Funding Childcare, School Lunches, Affordable Housing
By Michael Standaert,
North Dakota News Cooperative
A new statewide poll shows North Dakotans largely support state involvement in providing free school meals, funding childcare initiatives and helping build more affordable housing.
This support of big government expenditures comes despite a generally conservative political climate that favors curtailed spending and less government in North Dakota.
The poll, commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative, could also provide insight for legislators at the upcoming 69th Legislative Assembly which convenes on Jan. 7, 2025, on key areas of concern for state residents.
Large support free school meals
An overwhelming majority of respondents support state involvement in providing free school meals for children, with 82% in favor and only 14% opposing. A total of 65% strongly favor providing free meals at schools.
That support is generally high among all age groups with the most opposition coming from men over 55 years of age.
Within party affiliation, 95% of Democrats, 82% of Independents and 76% of Republicans supported providing free meals at schools.
During the last legislative session, House Bill 1491 fell short of passing by one vote in the state Senate after passing the House. That bill would have provided free lunches for children from families at 200% of the federal poverty level - comparable to a family of three making around $60,000 at the time - and would have cost $6 million over the two years it was funded.
An earlier version of that bill had called for universal free school lunches - with a price tag of $90 million - but was modified to increase its chances of passing.
Yearning for more on childcare
Broad support also appears to be growing for more state involvement in solving the childcare crisis. Major workforce challenges persist, creating gaps between supply of childcare spaces and strong demand. As more families move to the state to fill open positions, solving that crisis will be paramount to attract talent.
A total of 61% of respondents support state involvement in childcare, with 31% opposed. Support here was slightly more mixed, with 34% strongly supporting state involvement, and 21 percent strongly opposed. Support and opposition