California residents oppose fee hikes at the state’s public colleges and universities by a two-to-one margin, according to a new poll, and 57% believe that state spending on public higher education should be given a boost.

The poll, released yesterday, found that 62% of Californians oppose raising tuition in the UC and Cal State systems and the state’s community colleges, with just 35% supporting such increases.

Nearly half (49%) of all respondents said they would be willing to pay more in taxes to support higher education in California, up eight points in just a year.

The poll was conducted in late October and early November, before the University of California and California State systems announced plans to raise fees for the 2011-12 academic year. The UC Board of Regents will be voting on an $822 fee increase later today.