Helping at-risk children develop social skills and the ability to learn before they enter school prevents crime in the long run, retired Mesa Police Chief Dennis Donna said Monday.

A new poll shows majority support among likely voters to retain an early childhood development program whose revenues are targeted by the Legislature.

When lawmakers voted in March to put the referendum on the ballot — a measure that would sweep and dismantle the Early Childhood Development and Health Board Fund — they expected it to put about $325 million into the state’s cash-starved coffers. But as of Sept. 1, the agency had about $100 million more than that on hand.

Supporters of a proposal to dismantle program for early childhood development have formed a campaign committee to persuade voters to approve the measure this November.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge decided Monday against changing the description of a ballot measure that aims to eliminate a voter-approved program for early childhood development and sweep its money.