ATLANTA (WXIA) -- An exclusive Survey USA poll commissioned by 11Alive News indicates an income cap is the top choice among Georgians given alternatives to saving the HOPE Scholarship.
The number of students earning the HOPE Scholarship is far outpacing the funding that comes from the state lottery. Democrats in the state legislature have proposed limiting the scholarship to families that earn less than a yet to be determined income. Republicans, including Gov. Nathan Deal, have spoken out against any proposal to make HOPE an income based scholarship.
RELATED | Full 11Alive News/Survey USA poll results
The Survey USA poll questioned 1,075 registered voters who said they were familiar with the HOPE scholarship. Ninety-four percent of the respondents said they'd received the HOPE Scholarship while in college.
When given a choice of several alternatives to keep the HOPE Scholarship solvent, 45 percent of those polled said they would rather see an income cap. Thirty percent said they would rather see some other alternative, while 20 percent said they would rather see a reduction in the amount of the scholarship. Five percent of the respondents said they weren't sure.
Senate Democrats in the legislature have floated the idea of a $140,000 income cap. The poll asked if that amount was appropriate, too much, or not enough.
Thirty-six percent of the respondents said the $140,000 amount was just about right. Respondents were evenly divided as to whether the amount was too much or too little. Twenty-six percent said it was too restrictive, while another 26 percent said it wasn't restrictive enough. Twelve percent said they were not sure.
Of those who said a $140,000 cap was too much, 48 percent make over $80,000 a year. Of the respondents who said $140,000 was too little, 61 percent make $40,000 or less.
State Republicans, who control both the Georgia House and Senate, have stressed that last year's HOPE reforms kept the scholarship solvent this year and need the opportunity to continue to work. Republicans say they want HOPE to remain a merit based scholarship without regard to income.
Democrats say without further reforms HOPE will pay students half of what its paying now by the year 2016.