The General Assembly is considering legislation for

the state’s ailing furniture industry that would offer property tax exemptions, tax credits and allow nonprofit investments in such companies.

As proposed, the legislation would also create a $5 million fund to be used for job creation and expansion while providing another $2 million for a technology center as part of the state’s community college system.

So, with all this attention focused on this important Triad industry, our latest online poll asked readers: Should the General Assembly provide extra incentives to N.C. furniture manufacturers?

There was no overwhelming consensus to the survey, which ran from Jan. 24-30, but 35 percent of the 158 respondents said the state should do everything it can to help business, regardless of industry. Another 20 percent say it is OK for state lawmakers to use public dollars specifically to help legacy industries, such as furniture manufacturing.

But 29 percent said no, the state should not be using taxpayer dollars to favor one specific industry, and the remaining 14 percent said the state should not offer incentives to businesses under any circumstances. (Percentages don’t add up to 100 percent because of rounding.)

Listed below are a sampling of poll voters’ comments, which were made anonymously.

“It’s time for them to stand on their own in the world market without any taxpayer funding.”

“The state should help businesses, but very conservatively. The furniture industry needs help, but is this the answer, or (will it just prolong) the inevitable shift to off-shore manufacturing?”

“The only ones to benefit are the owners and politicians. Employers in these legacy industries will continue to hire the cheapest labor they can find and will depress wages by whatever means possible. Better to apply the money to retraining the workers in higher-paying and more promising fields.”

“My industry is not so great either and nobody has ever offered us tax incentives or property tax exemptions.”