Despite two public opinion polls that show the 0.4 percent land transfer tax hike to be a loser — even in Orange County where proud liberals dominate the leadership and citizenry — Orange County commissioners voted unanimously last night to put the tax hike on the May 6 ballot.

As I blogged on Monday, a North Carolina Association of Realtors poll of 400 likely voters found 68 percent opposed and 24 percent in support. Commissioner Mike Nelson slammed the results, telling the Durham Herald-Sun: “The Realtors got the results that they paid for.”

Last night, the county commissioners heard the results of the county-funded poll. (registration required to access the Herald-Sun). It showed 50 percent of likely voters opposed to the transfer tax and 31 percent in support.

The county-funded poll once again pointed out the huge philosophical divide between northern Orange County and Chapel Hill/Carrboro — the two Orange counties so to speak. According to the Herald-Sun story (emphasis is mine):

The strongest differentiator in the survey is the school district in which the voter lives in. Those in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ district oppose the land transfer tax by a five-point margin, but those who live in the Orange County Schools’ district oppose it by 35 points, according to the poll’s executive summary.

Expect the county to engage in a full court press campaign to “educate” voters. Last October, the county began seeking volunteers for what it terms the “Local Revenue Options Education Advisory Committee.” Meantime, Commissioner Nelson indicated to the Herald-Sun earlier in the week what his message will be:

Nelson said Realtors and home builders advocating against the proposed revenue option don’t have the best interest of Orange County schoolchildren at heart.

“And that’s what this referendum is about, getting additional revenue streams so we can build schools for our children,” Nelson said. “Are [voters] going to side with Realtors from Raleigh, or are they going to side with needs of our schoolchildren?”