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DEL.ICIO.USEducation + Donation = Tax Credit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rumors had been swirling at the Statehouse for weeks that some lawmakers wanted to follow the lead of other states and seek legislation to offer tax credits for businesses and others who give charitable donations for education.
Now we have a bill from state Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) creating two new education organizations that would receive and dole out the donations — as much as $50 million a year — for private school scholarships for low-income and special-needs pupils, as well as grants to public schools for underfunded programs, such as foreign language studies in elementary school.
State senators already passed a bill, now being considered in the House, that would allow students with disabilities a scholarship (a.k.a. a voucher) to attend another public or private school of their choice. Ehrhart told AJC reporter Kevin Duffy that his plan would provide an additional scholarship to cover any remaining tuition for those kids.
One of the main arguments against taxpayer-funded, private school tuition vouchers is that they drain needed funding from public schools. Ehrhart’s plan seems to address that by creating a new pot of money. So would more people support tax credits than a voucher plan or — to mangle Shakespeare — do vouchers by any name still not smell so sweet?
Comments
By jim d
February 13, 2007 08:09 AM | Link to this
What a load of BULL,
Private money already exists and with the needs more will become available. The problem being that Government doesn’t control it. But then I really see no need for them to have control.
This is merely Just a load of political monkey crap and an attempt for more government control!
By jim d
February 13, 2007 08:26 AM | Link to this
Let me splain –Lucy,
Tax credit vs. Existing tax deduction for contributions to a non-profit = Greater savings to contributors = greater shortfalls in tax revenues = more middle class taxes to make up the shortfalls.
And what would politicians gains? Ah, ————- control of the money.
By KA
February 13, 2007 08:49 AM | Link to this
I’m with jim on this one. Gov’t creation of 2 NEW organizations would result in bureaucracy building and administrative overhead, who would be skimming their percentage off the top and thus diverting contributions away from education.
By fed up
February 13, 2007 08:57 AM | Link to this
I’m with KA. The way things are going it looks like only middle class mainstream and gifted kids will be left in public schools. They will be the only ones who can’t get the private money and who don’t qualify for the special needs vouchers.
Well,…… maybe that will work! Could we also give vouchers to kids who are are disruptive and dangerous and to kids whose parents just don’t give a rip about education? If we can do all of that and get these kids shippped off to private schools, maybe public education stands a chance.
By Ernest
February 13, 2007 09:10 AM | Link to this
Good points JimD! I’m afraid most people won’t recognize that. It will be interesting to hear the ‘spin’ that goes along with this. I bet they will try to say the donations received will be greater than the tax revenues lost.
By mmm
February 13, 2007 09:20 AM | Link to this
We should be asking loudly why donations to public education receive less of a deduction than those to private schools. This makes no sense unless the true issue is that we want to kill the public system. (Surprise!)
By HS Teacher Too
February 13, 2007 09:45 AM | Link to this
Fed Up — well said.
By JustMe
February 13, 2007 09:46 AM | Link to this
I do not understand why the government needs to become involved in charity - education wise or other wise. This will create another level of government not needed.
If people want to “donate” money, they can create their own scholarship fund or even give directly to the private school(s) to create a special scholarship.
Please don’t allow government to become involved.
Besides, we need to keep a clear distinction between public schools and our tax dollars vs. private schools and private funds.
By jim d
February 13, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Ernest,
“the donations received will be greater than the tax revenues lost”
It may be difficult to explain that way since the contributions are ear marked for education when tax revenues go into the general fund.
No what I forsee here is an effort to gain control of the private schools by controlling there funding from private sources.