Jerry Brown’s approval rating reaches new high, survey finds

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Jerry Brown is more popular than he has been among California voters than at any time since retaking the governor’s office in 2011, a new survey has found.

The Public Policy Institute of California poll shows Brown’s approval on the rise, even as state voters appear to be souring on President Barack Obama.

The survey found 60% of the state’s likely voters give Brown positive marks more than three years into his third term as governor. Brown has not yet said whether he will seek an unprecedented fourth term later this year, but he is widely expected to run.

Brown holds large leads over one of his announced Republican candidates for the job. In a head-to-head match-up, he holds a 53-17% lead over Assemblyman Tim Donnelly. The survey did not ask about a potential match-up with political newcomer Neel Kashkari, a former Wall St. banker who announced a run for governor earlier this month.

For the first time since President Obama took office, a majority of likely voters say they disapprove of the job he is doing. Just 46% of those surveyed give the president positive marks, compared to 51% who say they disapprove of Obama’s performance.

The poll also found growing support for change in the way the state collects property taxes. Among likely voters, 59% say the state should effectively increase levies on businesses. But voters are split about whether it should be easier for local governments to pass taxes at the ballot box.

You can read the entire survey here.

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anthony.york@latimes.com

Twitter: @anthonyyorklat