Legislative Update - Action Needed
Dear Supporters of Catholic Schools,
I am asking for your assistance with a very important and urgent legislative action alert. As many of you know, families under 400% of the federal poverty rate can apply for STO grants to attend Catholic schools. Many students at our school benefit and rely on this program. The Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa Catholic Conference, Iowa ACE and "Our Faith, Our Children, Our Future" STO board all support a substantial increase the amount of tax credits available for our students, as we can't currently fund all of the identified need for our families.
Currently $13 million in tax credits are made available by the state to donors and we are asking the legislature to increase that to $20 million in coming years. Bills that are moving in the Iowa Legislature include an increase in the STO tax credits among many other provisions. Senate File 631, which passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee, includes a $4 million increase for a total of $17 million. If all tax credits were expended, that would raise about $26 million for scholarships. House Study Bill 257 includes a $1 million increase. The STO tax credit program does not take money from public school funding. In fact, the Iowa Department of Revenue estimates this program saves the state more than $12 million a year which can be used for other purposes.
Please go to https://www.votervoice.net/ICC/campaigns/65475/respond to send a note to your senator and representative (your name will be pre-populated based on your address). You will see a sample message already prepared but I would urge you to personalize that message whenever possible--especially if you have been a recipient of a STO grant. You may also wish to call your legislators directly. Legislators need to hear from constituents of the importance of the STO program and the need to increase the available tax payers to support our students in need.
Wishing You Easter Blessings,
Amy Conlon, Principal
Sent by Amy Conlon on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 12:08PM
