Tax credit procedures changed in recent years but, according to Fountain Hills Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sweeney, a few details bare repeating, especially regarding deadlines.

In a recent message to local parents, Sweeney highlighted some of the recent changes of the tax credit program, also explaining why FHUSD is hoping to see a strong turnout for this year’s donations.

“Our goal is to fund all extracurricular activities, from athletics to Academic Decathlon to robotics and Homework Club, from non-Maintenance and Operations sources,” Sweeney explained. “M&O constitutes the bulk of our operating budget and is formula-driven by school finance legislation.”

Sweeney stated that nearly 90 percent of M&O is budgeted for salaries and benefits for district employees.

“We have adjusted our salary schedule to be more competitive with surrounding districts in terms of attracting and retaining great teachers,” Sweeney continued. “…we want to maintain that competitive position moving forward.”

In order for that to work, Sweeney said that the local school district will try to fund all extracurricular activities through non-M&O sources, including gifts, donations and those tax credit donations.

At the close of 2016, Athletic Director Michael Briguglio presented a proposed athletic fee increase to the Governing Board. Briguglio explained that he met with many stakeholder groups before formulating recommended changes, which equated to potentially raising athletic fees for the first time in 10 years in order to create a self-sustaining program.

This was one of the measures the District wished to look into in order to keep from drawing on M&O monies in order to fund extracurricular activities.

According to Sweeney, the idea of raising athletic fees went over “like the proverbial lead balloon,” and so will not receive a recommendation before the Governing Board.

But as Sweeney points out, if fees can’t be raised, then the extra funding needs to come from somewhere.

“The easiest and most timely way to do that is to better leverage and take advantage of the Public School Tax Credit, which is available to all individuals who pay taxes in the state of Arizona,” Sweeney continued. “There is no requirement that a contributor has a child in one of our schools, so this tax credit is available to all taxpayers.”

As noted earlier, changes were made in recent years pertaining to how the tax credit program works. Unfortunately, Sweeney said that the changes have muddied the water a bit.

“In short, if you or someone you know has not yet filed their taxes for 2016, a tax credit donation can still be made up until April 15 for the 2016 tax year,” Sweeney explained. “If you or someone you know has filed their 2016 taxes, a contribution can be made anytime during this year to count as a 2017 tax credit.”

For additional information on the specifics of the tax credit program, as well as a download link for the tax credit form or to make a tax credit donation online, visit fountainhillsschools.org/Tax Credit.