A survey released Thursday by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University shows that 81 percent of residents want job creation to be the main priority for the Indiana General Assembly in 2013. This is the third straight year that Hoosiers said jobs are the No. 1 priority.

Residents also said that improving schools, making health care more affordable, and protecting the environment are top priorities. The number of Hoosiers citing reducing illegal immigration as a top priority dropped this year nine percentage points to 36 percent.

The survey says residents are evenly split regarding their opinion on legalizing same sex marriage, with 55 percent supporting same sex civil unions. Nearly 40 percent support the constitutional ban.

A push in the Legislature to decriminalize marijuana would be supported by 53 percent of survey respondents. Those Hoosiers think small amounts of the drug should be a civil offense. Support for decriminalizing is highest among 18-24 year olds, those who make more than $100,000, and those with higher levels of education completed.

The survey was conducted for WISH-TV and the Bowen Center for Public Affairs in November by Princeton Research Associates International. 602 Hoosier adults were surveyed by landline and cell phone, with a sampling error of plus/minus 4.5 percent.