Suspend education tax credits

You want to add revenue to the state coffers to be used to lessen education cuts? Get rid of the public and private school tax credits, education groups say.

It makes sense. The total tax credits last year added up to $95 million. I don't have the figures handy, but I think about $60 million went to private schools and $35 million went to public schools. Tax credit advocates will tell you that's not state tax money, but they're lying. I gave $400 to a public school in December, and I'll have $400 taken off my state taxes this year. That's zero dollars from me, $400 from the state. Didn't some Shakespeare character say  something like, A tax dollar by any other name would still be a tax dollar?

No question, the first education cut should be tax dollars going to private schools. It's a bad idea — a just barely constitutional idea — during flush economic times. It's absolutely criminal when we're talking about cutting public schools to the bone.

There are two good arguments for cutting public school tax credits. One is that the money is unevenly distributed, with the majority going to schools in high income areas. The state should continue to use the money for education, but distribute it fairly. The other is that tax credit money is targeted for non-classroom activities — things like after school programs and enrichment programs. As valuable as those programs may be, they're less vital than the classroom.

Without public and private tax credits, the state has an extra $95 million to put into the most vital educational needs of our school without increasing taxes. That's a substantial chunk of change.