Support Education Tax Credits

The Federation of Catholic Teachers, OPEIU Local 153, is in full support of New York State legislation, which would allow parents in any school to receive a tax credit for educational expenses.  These tax credits would be especially helpful to the parents of children in our Catholic schools.  We need to keep our students in our schools and we need to keep our schools so that parents have a choice!

We are presented with a rare opportunity to advocate on behalf of our working parents who sacrifice so much to send their children to our Catholic schools.  Governor Pataki has proposed his own Tax Education Credit legislation, which would credit $500 to families earning no more than $75,000 per year.

Assembly bill 8203 (S1939), sponsored by State Senator Martin Golden and Assembly Member Vito Lopez, would allow up to a $3000 credit (depending upon income) for parents in public, independent, and parochial schools for educational expenses.  Our parents need and deserve help affording increasing tuitions.

Assembly bill 6145 (S3101), sponsored by State Senator Serphin Maltese and Assembly Member Dov Hikind, would allow an education investment tax credit for businesses or individuals who make charitable contributions to our schools and/or scholarship-granting organizations.  We know that many of our schools depend upon the generosity of patrons and philanthropists to stay open.  This bill would encourage more charitable contributions to all schools.

The FCT, represented by President Mary-Ann Perry, Vice-president Patricia Gabriel, and OPEIU Local 153 Secretary/Treasurer Richard Lanigan were in Albany on February 13^th and 14^th, to show our support for this legislation.  We spoke with legislators, letting them know that we expect their support for education tax credits and we joined the rally that was held on the steps of the State Capitol.

We also will be in Albany on March 13^th and 14^th to join with the New York State Catholic Conference in lobbying for this issue.

 WE NEED EVERYONE, TEACHERS, PARENTS, FRIENDS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, TO JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT!  WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!

WRITE TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS WITH THE SAME MESSAGE.  WE NEED THEM TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION IN FAIRNESS TO ALL NEW YORK STATE PARENTS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!

E-MAIL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS!  

WE NEED YOU TO CONTACT THE LEGISLATORS IN YOUR HOME DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE LEGISLATORS FOR YOUR SCHOOL’S DISTRICT.

FOR INFORMATION ON WHO YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE AND HOW CONTACT THEM, PLEASE REFERENCE THESE PAGES:

Table of Legislators for each school

New York State Senate Website

New York State Assembly Website