County poll shows strong support for using tax dollars to protect open space, trust tells council

The Greenville County Council Committee of the Whole heard results of a countywide poll presented by the Greenville County Historic Natural Resources Trust showing broad public support for using tax dollars to protect open space and parks, Trust representative Carlton Owen said.

The poll, conducted for the trust by the Trafalgar Group in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greenville, found that roughly 72%–80% of respondents supported using public dollars to add to state parks, county parks and to protect historic sites, Owen said. A “super majority” — nearly 80% — said they were supportive or strongly supportive of using a portion of their property taxes for open-space protection, and about two-thirds of respondents favored increased funding above the trust’s current level.

The poll matters because it may shape how the trust and the county discuss funding options for conservation. “Nine out of 10 people are very concerned about loss of green space in Greenville County,” Owen said, summarizing one of the poll’s headline findings.…