Give your public school tax credit before December 31 — Second Reminder

by David Safier

OK, it's the day before Christmas. If you want to add to the warm holiday feeling giving gives — and do it without a permanent dent in your pocketbook — you can give $200 to a public school, $400 if you're a couple, and get it all back when you file your state income taxes. That's 100% back, assuming you owe at least as much in taxes as you gave.

At no cost to you, one (or more) of our public schools gets a small financial boost it sorely needs. What a holiday deal!

I recommend you give your tax credit dollars either to a TUSD school or a Sunnyside School. The main reason is, those districts have more low income students than most area districts, and low income schools get less in the way of tax credit dollars than their more affluent neighbors. People who are comfortable financially know they will owe taxes, and they can afford to give up $200-$400 now with the prospect of getting it back later, something a financially strapped family can't do.

Here's the TUSD page listing their schools that get the lowest tax credit dollars per student. You can contribute by credit card here or print out a form to send in.

Sunnyside only has a mail-in form.

Three local districts get a lump of coal in their stockings from me — a recommendation you don't give your tax credit dollars there: Marana, Amphi and Flowing Wells. Here's the reason. All three districts allow donors to name the student who gets the money and the activity it goes for (unfortunately, state law says the money can only go for extracurricular activities). That means parents can pay for their own children's band, sports, drama or trip expenses and get their money back, while less fortunate families have to pay the same expenses out of their own pockets. Here's what that looks like on one of the district's forms.

It's perfectly legit to offer this alternative, but I think it's reprehensible. Admittedly, if I had a child in one of those districts, I would probably take advantage of the offer, but that doesn't make it right. I don't think those school districts should be rewarded for encouraging behavior that favors its financially comfortable families over those with less income.