Tax donations keep extracurricular activities alive
North Scottsdale Independent 12/24/2008, Page A04
Guest Commentary
By David Schaefer
Do our public schools really need the money generated by the public school tax credit? The answer is yes. It is yes because, in the short run, it is the right thing to do for our students. In the bigger picture I am conflicted about our school tax credits.
On the one hand, I know that our schools need the money that they receive through tax credit donations. In the Cave Creek Unified School District we received more than $590,000 dollars in tax year 2007. Statewide that number was $43.9 million. The state Legislature, through ARS 43-1089.01, specified that tax credit funds could be donated to public schools to support extracurricular activities through a dollar for dollar credit. Many of the activities supported by tax credits are easy to identify and include athletics and music programs. Other important uses of those funds might surprise you: scientific lab materials, academic field trips, character education programs, student council and artists in residence. These programs cost CCUSD more than $1 million per year.
During the current fiscal year, CCUSD was able to set aside only 0.9 percent of its maintenance and operations budget to support school-sponsored athletics and co-curricular activities. The remaining funding comes predominantly from tax credit donations. Without this funding the fees to participate would be unthinkable. Are these programs necessary? Absolutely. Are these programs at risk without the tax credit donation funding? Absolutely.
Imagine what it would be like if the football stadiums were dark and quiet on those crisp fall Friday nights? What if there was no band to march in the annual Fourth of July parade? Want to send the kids on a field trip to the State Capitol? Pay as you go, please. School sports, marching bands, student council elections and field trips are all part of the fabric of our school community. They contribute to developing well-rounded students who will have expanded experiences and opportunities because of those programs.
On the other hand, I feel like the tax credit statute is another well-worn band-aid for our out dated and ill-advised state educa tion funding system. The reality is that our schools need all of their M&O money to pay the teachers, principals, counselors and bus drivers. They need it to put gas in the buses, keep the lights on and buy classroom supplies. Our state funding formulas ensure that there is little if anything left to support important extracurricular programs. It seems that the tax credit statute was a way for legislators to add some funding to our schools without having to tackle the real question of comprehensive education funding reform. And in the recent past, with the state running budget surpluses, it was relatively painless for legislators to divert this money to the schools. Now with the state facing massive budget deficits, this strategy is proving shortsighted.
This upcoming year is a fresh start with new faces on school governing boards, in the Legislature, the governor’s offi ce and the White House. Change had better be coming. We have serious budget challenges at every level. The state tax credit statute puts important dollars into our school districts for critical extra curricular and character education programs. Our schools need this Band-Aid until we are able to achieve comprehensive reform for how we fund the schools in our great state.
Editor’s note: David Schaefer was elected to the Cave Creek Unified School District Governing Board in November and takes office in January 2009.