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Monthly Sam Hughes Neighborhood Association MeetingThe next meeting will be held Tuesday, June 19th at 7:00 PM at the Himmel Park Library Unless otherwise announced, Board Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Look for minutes of recent meetings on the Minutes/Agendas page.
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Support Sam Hughes SchoolWe are reaching out to you with a friendly reminder to please support Sam Hughes School with your 2010 tax credit dollars.This letter will tell you how easy it is to help without costing you anything, and will clarify why Sam Hughes School is so dependent on tax credit dollars. What is the State tax credit program?The State tax credit program is a free way for Arizona taxpayers to send a portion of their taxes to a public school. Individual tax filers may dedicate up to $200 and couples filing jointly can dedicate up to $400 to the public school of their choice. You will get every dollar back as a tax credit, reducing what you owe or increasing your refund by the amount you contributed. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your Arizona income tax liability. For example, suppose you are married and filing jointly and owe $1,000 in state income taxes. When you send $400 to Sam Hughes School, you will receive a credit for that exact amount on your Arizona income tax return. As a result, you will only owe $600. You can participate whether you expect a refund or you expect to owe. A credit is more valuable to you than a deduction because you get all your money back. What do tax credit dollars pay for at Sam Hughes?
I usually give my tax credit dollars to a poor school. Does Sam Hughes need my tax credit dollars?Yes! One in 3 Sam Hughes students receive free or reduced price lunch. A family's income determines if the student can enroll in the free/reduced price lunch program. A school qualifies for federal Title 1 funding if at least 40% of students are enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program. Sam Hughes School just misses this 40% threshold and therefore does not receive Title I funding. This translates into a very important fact. If one compares per pupil spending at Sam Hughes School against per pupil spending at a Title I school, the difference is clear: per pupil spending is much less at Sam Hughes School. I already support a private school. How can I help Sam Hughes too?The public school and private school tax credit programs are two separate programs, so you can participate in both. Dedicating tax credit dollars to a public school actually saves you money because a tax deduction can be claimed on your Federal tax return for donating to a charitable organization. Please remember that a strong neighborhood public school makes Sam Hughes Neighborhood a more desirable place to live and protects property values. Can I participate even if I don't have children?Yes, you don't have to have children to support the students at your neighborhood school. Do I have to send the full $200 or $400 amount?No, if you do not wish to send the maximum amount any amount you choose will be very much appreciated. You can also send installments as long as you do not exceed those amounts. How do I send my tax credit dollars to Sam Hughes School?Participate online with a credit card before midnight on Dec. 31. You will receive a receipt immediately. –OR–A check made out to "Sam Hughes School" can be brought or mailed (postmarked by Dec. 31) to: What else can I do to help?You can spread the word to other Arizona residents and let them know how easy it is to make a direct and positive impact on a local student's education for free! You don't have to live in Tucson to support Sam Hughes with tax credit dollars! I have questions. Who should I call?The school office can be reached at 232-7400 or contact Amy Bosco at 881-1463, afbosco [AT] yahoo DOT com. Please consult a tax specialist for advice about your specific situation. Control your State tax dollars and support education at your neighborhood public school.In the absence of Title I funding, Sam Hughes School is quite vulnerable to ongoing education cuts and relies more than ever on our tax credit budget. If you pay taxes in Arizona, why wouldn't you keep your tax dollars local by investing in the students who attend your neighborhood school? This is a win-win opportunity: It costs nothing to reroute your taxes so that Sam Hughes students, and ultimately our neighborhood, benefit. Sam Hughes students, their parents, teachers, and staff thank you for your consideration. Please remember that you have an open invitation to visit the school to see tax credit dollars working for With Gratitude, Amy Bosco |
