Scottsdale
Schools ask for tax-credit stocking stuffer
Year-end donations fund multitude of programs
NORTHEAST VALLEY - Area schools have their own holiday wish lists.
As 2008 comes to a close, schools are asking residents to make tax-credit donations to fund programs and opportunities for students.
Arizona gives taxpayers dollar-for-dollar credit on their state income taxes for school donations. Public schools accept donations for extracurricular and character-education programs, and private school tuition organizations accept donations on behalf of private schools that provides scholarships or grants to qualified schools.
Cave Creek Unified School District schools received $590,954 in donations in 2007. Kent Frison, associate superintendent of operations and finance, said the money helps pay for school activities.
"Other than saying they're very important I really can't state it any other way," Frison said.
Money must be earmarked directly to certain schools, and Frison said Cave Creek would offer taxpayers the option to choose what areas they would like to fund, including field trips, athletics, clubs, character-education, gifted-enrichment programs, and performing and fine arts. Donations must be made by Dec. 31 to claim the credit.
The Cave Creek district is sending donation forms to all district residents this week. Last year the district spent $7,000 to mail forms, and received $82,000 in donations from the mailing.
"The people decide which school they want to earmark the money for," Frison said. "All money goes to a school. No money is earmarked for the district."
Frison said Cave Creek would offer special district office hours on Dec. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to allow for last-minute donations.
In Scottsdale, Desert Mountain High School received $433,806 in donations last year. Principal Greg Milbrandt said the funds are vital to helping school clubs.
"It's awesome," Milbrandt said of the donations. "They help students go on a lot of different trips and it really benefits their opportunities on what they can attend."
Money helps fund trips for choir and dance groups to New York City. Donations also helped cover costs of a marching band trip to a Riverside, Calif. competition. Desert Mountain also allows contributions to be designated for clubs or programs, like orchestra, robotics, or mock trial.
In the Paradise Valley Unified School District, Copper Canyon Elementary's Kids Chorus and Junior Chorus are paid for with public-school tax-credit donations.
Copper Canyon Elementary Principal Steve Bursi said the tax-credit donations are critical. In 2007, the school collected more than $84,000, which is being used for several programs, including Academic Coaching Club, Yearbook Club, Mad Science and Baton.
Republic reporter Betty Reid contributed to this story.
