By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- A survey of registered voters in the Village of Potsdam finds that 53 percent now oppose dissolution of village government, a major reversal from a poll taken in April.

The telephone poll was conducted by SUNY Potsdam political science students between Oct. 21 – 29. Village residents will vote whether to dissolve the village on Nov. 8.

A total of 233 registered voters in the village who said they knew that the village had prepared a dissolution study were surveyed. A total of 53 percent said they were opposed to dissolution; 29 percent said they were in favor; 18 percent said they didn’t know.

That’s a big change from a survey conducted by the same group in April that indicated only 15 percent said they were opposed to dissolving the village. At that time, 55 percent said they were in favor of dissolution and 30 percent said they did not know.

A separate survey of voters in the township outside the village found that 44 would favor a town-wide police force if the village dissolves, 47 percent would be opposed, and 9 percent were unsure.

North Country This Week was the most-often cited source of information about the issue of dissolution, followed by “friends and neighbors” at 70 percent, and the Courier-Observer, at 55 percent.

About 81 percent of those surveyed said they are likely to cast a vote next Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The recent survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percent.

The survey revealed that those supporting dissolution generally believe property taxes in the village are unreasonable, according to the results compiled by Dr. Robert Hinckley. He and fellow SUNY Potsdam professor Dr. Jack Maguire composed and conducted the survey with students from their class in public opinion and their democracy lab.

Those opposed to dissolution primarily believe the village police are very important and that the town board is unlikely to fully implement the proposed dissolution plan, which calls for the creation of a town-wide police force, the survey results indicated.

Only 26 percent believe the town would fully implement the plan, while 49 percent said they thought it was unlikely and 25 percent said they didn’t know.

More than half of those surveyed – 57 percent – said they had read some version of the proposed village dissolution plan.