News
Valley schools rely heavily on tax-credit funds
Adam Bernal/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
San Pedro Valley taxpayers have less than a month to donate tax credits to local schools to help fund extracurricular activities and other education programs.
Contributions to public schools and charter schools provide funding for activities like before- and after-school classes, field trips and other programs. The deadline to make school tax credit contributions is Dec. 31.
Individual taxpayers can donate up to $200 to public schools and married couples can donate $400 if filing a joint tax return.
If taxpayers choose to donate, donors will receive state tax credit when they receive their tax returns.
Taxpayers can donate to any school or educational program of their choosing. All of the donated tax credit will go directly to the school or program in need of funding.
Public schools in the state of Arizona are ranked 49th in funding in the United States and are in need of extra donations for educational programs.
Benson Schools Superintendent David Woodall said that tax credit money is very beneficial in helping schools and students for field trips, camps and other extracurricular activities. They also give parents an opportunity to support the schools at no cost and get the entire amount refunded on their income, he said.
"It's a big part of our extracurricular program," Woodall said. "Parents have been very supportive after they realize it's all refundable."
Woodall said the taxcredit donations have helped programs such as the Academic Decathalon, the school's athletic programs, Future Farmers of America and nearly all of the school's clubs and organizations.
St. David Superintendent Kate Mueller concurred.
"We rely on these donations to give our students programs and equipment that we cannot provide on a district level, due to inadequate funding from the state," Mueller said.
Mueller says that tax credits have been crucial in providing funds for field trips, artist in residence programs, special programs and assemblies. Tax credits have also gone toward purchasing items like band instruments and athletic equipment, she said.
But if state lawmakers have their way, the school-donation tax credit program may be suspended for one year to whittle down a looming budget deficit that may end up at $2 billion.
To donate to the St. David School District, forms can be printed out online at www.stdavidschools.org, then click on "Tax Credit Info" in the sidebar. The completed forms can be mailed to St. David Schools, P.O. Box 70, St. David, AZ 85630.To donate to the Benson School District, forms can be printed out online at www.bensonsd.k12.az.us/tax and turned in to the district office at 360 South Patagonia Street.
San Pedro Valley taxpayers have less than a month to donate tax credits to local schools to help fund extracurricular activities and other education programs.
Contributions to public schools and charter schools provide funding for activities like before- and after-school classes, field trips and other programs. The deadline to make school tax credit contributions is Dec. 31.
Individual taxpayers can donate up to $200 to public schools and married couples can donate $400 if filing a joint tax return.
If taxpayers choose to donate, donors will receive state tax credit when they receive their tax returns.
Taxpayers can donate to any school or educational program of their choosing. All of the donated tax credit will go directly to the school or program in need of funding.
Public schools in the state of Arizona are ranked 49th in funding in the United States and are in need of extra donations for educational programs.
Benson Schools Superintendent David Woodall said that tax credit money is very beneficial in helping schools and students for field trips, camps and other extracurricular activities. They also give parents an opportunity to support the schools at no cost and get the entire amount refunded on their income, he said.
"It's a big part of our extracurricular program," Woodall said. "Parents have been very supportive after they realize it's all refundable."
Woodall said the taxcredit donations have helped programs such as the Academic Decathalon, the school's athletic programs, Future Farmers of America and nearly all of the school's clubs and organizations.
St. David Superintendent Kate Mueller concurred.
"We rely on these donations to give our students programs and equipment that we cannot provide on a district level, due to inadequate funding from the state," Mueller said.
Mueller says that tax credits have been crucial in providing funds for field trips, artist in residence programs, special programs and assemblies. Tax credits have also gone toward purchasing items like band instruments and athletic equipment, she said.
But if state lawmakers have their way, the school-donation tax credit program may be suspended for one year to whittle down a looming budget deficit that may end up at $2 billion.
To donate to the St. David School District, forms can be printed out online at www.stdavidschools.org, then click on "Tax Credit Info" in the sidebar. The completed forms can be mailed to St. David Schools, P.O. Box 70, St. David, AZ 85630.To donate to the Benson School District, forms can be printed out online at www.bensonsd.k12.az.us/tax and turned in to the district office at 360 South Patagonia Street.
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