|
|
December 1, 2000/Kislev 10, 5761, Vol. 53, No.10
Just do itEditorialGive - and receive. That's the intent of Arizona legislation that allows for state tax credits for contributions to local schools and charities. The initiative allows taxpayers to make maximum $500 donations to private school tuition organizations, $200 donations to individual public schools or districts for extra-curricular activities and $200 donations to qualifying social agencies, including Jewish Family and Children's Service in Phoenix.Taxpayers can make the contributions before year-end and then deduct the amount from their state tax bill April 15. Contributions to three tuition associations, the Jewish Community Day School Scholarship Tuition Organization, Chabad Tuition Organization and Cheder Scholarship Organization, enable taxpayers to support several educational choices for Jewish children. With four elementary schools, Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Pardes School, The King David School and Tri-City Jewish Community Center Elementary School; two kindergartens, Beth El Congregation and Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center; and two high schools, Phoenix Preparatory Academy and the soon-to-open Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School, options for Jewish children are proliferating. Yet, the cost of day school, prohibitive for many families, often impedes enrollment. Last year, the Jewish Community Day School Scholarship Tuition Organization, the largest of the three tuition groups, disbursed $359,840 in tuition subsidies, providing assistance to 259 students in five Jewish schools. This year, organizers hope to exceed these numbers, allowing more students to take advantage of the day schools' integrated Judaic and secular curricula and the distinctly Jewish learning environments that promote strong Jewish identity and communal ties. Public schools can only gain from the support, which bolsters limited public funding to enhance the learning experiences of Arizona's youngsters. In 1999, $14.6 million was disbursed to a cross-section of Arizona's 1,600 public schools, funding activities from band to extended day kindergarten programs. The deadline for making the contributions is Dec. 31. Check with your tax consultant, then just do it. |
