ALBANY – New York voters oppose Gov. Paterson’s proposed $400 million-plus “fat tax” on sugared sodas, prefer to cut spending rather than raise taxes, and want a freeze on state worker salaries, a new poll released today showed.

The Quinnipiac University survey found voters opposed the governor’s controversial proposed tax on sweetened sodas, 57-40 percent, while, by a similar 58-40 percent, they said state services should be cut rather than taxes raised in order to help balance the state budget.

By a whopping 75-20 percent, including 68-25 percent among Democrats, voters want to freeze state worker salaries in order to help deal with the state’s budget crisis.

Meanwhile, voters by a lopsided 71-25 percent, said it was a “good idea” to make marijuana available for medical purposes under some circumstances.