Arizona FRC, FLL and FTC teams need your help!!!!!

[falconmaster]

It has come down to this. The economy is has sunk so low that the tax credit program that funds extracurricular actives such as helping to fund FRC, FTC and FLL teams is possibly going to be cut. In Arizona where we rank just about last in funding for education the state legislature is considering cutting a program that funds almost all the FLL teams, FTC teams and FRC teams in Arizona. Without this program, Arizona's FIRST teams will be decimated. Please help us by sending an email to the list of legislators seen below. Arizona teams really need to do this now!!!! Any other teams out there that wish to help please send a Graciously professional email to these legislators to help us out. Thanks! Further below is the article in the Arizona Republic

House
http://azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=H&SortBy=1
Senate
http://azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=S

Click on the link right here to get all the emails at once loaded into outlook.
aaguirre@azleg.gov,callen@azleg.gov,...ight@azleg.gov



Tax break under fire in budget fighting
State urged to suspend education tax credits
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...edits0126.html

by Emily Gersema and Mary Jo Pitzl - Jan. 26, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Education groups are pushing state lawmakers to consider suspending Arizona's popular tax credit for donations toward public-school extracurricular activities and private-school tuition to avert $125 million in basic education-funding cuts.

They argue that suspending this taxpayer benefit would avoid an unusual situation: cutting funds for things like textbooks, computers and transportation while continuing to allow the credits to fund after-school programs.

"If we're talking about a budget deficit of this magnitude, we're essentially talking about the state paying for these activities," John Wright, president of the Arizona Education Association, told a state House panel.

The idea has been embraced by many Democratic lawmakers, and Wright said he is getting "some" traction with Republican lawmakers. However, he declined to name names, saying members "aren't ready to stand up and wave the flag."

Anyone who does could face an abrupt end to a political career because the program is so popular.

As Republican state legislators aim to offset this year's $1.6 billion shortfall and a looming $3 billion deficit next year, the education tax credits have been absent from budget-cutting proposals.

Tinkering with the school-tax-credit donations is a political grenade, policy analysts say.

"Voting against a tax credit can be seen as a vote to raise taxes," said Michael Griffith, a school-finance expert for the Education Commission of the States, which tracks education-policy issues.

The tax-credit program was not on the list of potential cuts released two weeks ago by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, and his House counterpart, John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills.

Pearce recently told The Arizona Republic that he supports school-tax credits.

But House Minority Whip Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, says he believes all tax credits in Arizona, including those given for school support, should be reviewed.

Last year, the state gave back more than $95 million in tax credits to individual taxpayers for donations to public and private schools, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue.

"What's the point of having these tax credits in place for schools when at the same time you're taking money from the schools anyway?" Campbell said in an interview.

Every year, more Arizona taxpayers obtain dollar-for-dollar tax credits amid intense marketing efforts of schools, school districts and even booster clubs.

The Arizona Department of Revenue reports that 204,000 taxpayers claimed the public-school credit in 2007, up from 74,000 in 1998. And an estimated 76,000 donors claimed the tax credit for private schools in 2007, up from 4,200 in 1998.

Schools and parents see these donations as a win-win. Donors get credits on their state taxes, plus a federal tax deduction for a donation; public schools get money for field trips and other after-school activities while private schools can cover all or part of a student's tuition.

Since 1998, Arizona public schools have raked in more than $263 million in private, tax-deductible donations, while private schools have collected $293 million for scholarships.

That represents a total $556 million in lost state revenue over 10 years.

School budgets this year are in the line of Republicans' fiscal fire because education spending constitutes about $4 billion - or 43 percent - of the state general fund.

Chuck Essigs, a lobbyist for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, said lawmakers should try to spare educational programs and jobs when weighing cuts.

"Which is better for the citizens of Arizona: lose five days of school or the tax credits?" he asked.

Janice Palmer, governmental-relations director for the Arizona School Boards Association, said that "if there has to be some cuts, let's take a look at things that would be the least detrimental" to teachers, administrators and students.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne warned that "the constituency is too strong" in support of tax-credit donations to private and public schools. He cannot imagine legislators would change the credits to pull the state budget out of the red.

If legislators were to clamp down on school-tax-credit donations, "it seems to me there ought to be better financing for school activities," said David Juber, a Gilbert resident who donated last month to Chandler's Basha High School band program with his grandson in mind.

The use of tax-credit donations also has come under fire by conservatives who question the use of public-school donations for activities like field trips abroad or to Sea World and by liberals who criticize any support for private- and charter-school tuition breaks.

Sen. Jay Tibshraeny, R-Chandler, said he has received dozens of calls from constituents asking him to protect school tax credits from the budget ax.

"To look at those only - that would create some sort of hardship," he said.

[Jared Russell]

Unfortunately in times of economic hardship, tough choices have to be made. Cutting funding for programs like FIRST would be among the most short-sighted decisions they can make. There is fat to be trimmed in every budget, but FIRST is not a part of it.

I have hope that the many voices of FIRSTers will make themselves heard, though. Hopefully cool minds prevail and a more sensible policy will be the result. More pragmatically, I think that the politicians will realize that removing a tax credit equates to raising taxes, which then leads to early political retirement.

[lynca]

I sent an email to a few of the legislators you mentioned on the House Roster.

Do you know how much of the tax credit program goes to FIRST Robotics?
It seems like the article is focusing much of the tax credit program on private schools funds.

[BitTwiddler]

Unfortunately, the Arizona Legislature is not known for having a great deal of foresight. It doesn't help that education lost a good friend in the governor's office (she is now Director of Homeland Security).

I am hopeful they will realize what a mistake it would be to destroy a popular program that allows the Arizona taxpayers to have some control over how their tax dollars are used. I plan to remind them that I am a voter as well as a taxpayer.

Team 1726 is absolutely dependent upon this program for its long term survival.

Dave Tanguay

[GaryVoshol]

A couple years ago at GLR or Detroit the Governor of Michigan promised support for FIRST teams. Economic realities cut that support from the proposed $2,000,000 to $150,000, and then it got cut completely the next year. The simple facts are that there is only so much money to go around. It could either go to general education - to keep buildings running, pay teachers, buy books and supplies - or it could be granted to FIRST teams. While we were all sorely disappointed, the reality is that we must first have the basics before funding the extracurriculars.

[Donut]

I am not looking forward to seeing what gets passed in the coming weeks by Arizona's state legislature. Not only do I have to be concerned about the quality and cost of my education at the University of Arizona (since the state is considering cutting 40% of their current support for the 3 in state universities), I now have to be concerned about the future of my former team back in Phoenix that I still have close ties with (as well as the programs they continue to offer at the school since my brother is there).

This would absolutely decimate a good portion of teams in Arizona for next year. We've always used tax credits as a major form of income for the team and brought in no less than $2000 a year on them, but this year they've been especially needed. As our major sponsors have all pulled support over the past 2 years (our founding sponsors are no longer able to buy parts and donate the entry fee cost for us) we've turned to tax credits to keep the team alive until more sponsorship is found, and I think we received almost enough this year to cover the entry fee. It's always been our policy to keep at least enough money in our accounts to ensure we can compete the next year with $0 from any source, but if the tax credit system in Arizona were to disappear for a number of years our reserve funds will do little more than allow us to compete for one extra season before the team disbands.

What really concerns me is that we have the lowest spending per student in the entire country, and yet the legislature is pushing for major cuts to the budget because education occupies a larger chunk of the state budget than anything else. If we cut this much, what is the state still spending money on? Maybe Arizona is trying to become the first state in the country to have no taxes and no public funding?

[jamie_1930]

Not to offend anyone, but feel lucky your school every gave you money. We never saw any money coming in from our school and most of the big sponsors were taken by the time we came in so, there's always been a scramble for money every year. Then this year our teacher in charge was laid off and 1930 doesn't exist. Me and our "surviving members" were lucky enough to be taken in by 2228 for this season

[yodameister]

The tax credit is a direct credit to the extra curricular program. It is not money from the school, but from individual tax payers. The program gives the tax payers the option to actively direct part of their state income taxes to a specific approved program (like FIRST robotics, music, band, science olympiad, etc) up to a specified amount.

[falconmaster]

Like I mentioned before, if anyone want to email the legislature please feel free. There is a large outcry from the public, but your emails could make the difference!

[maltz1881]

We have the highest unemployment in the nation here in MI, it is over 10%. When companies have to cut employees they are going to cut sponsorship as well. It is sad but true. We here in Mi. are doing things a little different on a trial basis, so we will have to see in the end how it ends up. I think esp in this economy paying $5000.00 instead of the $6,000.00 helps a lot. Sure we don't get every single bell and whistle in the districts but who cares, we are building and playing!! Start planning now for next year and start fundraising. If you have to hold a car wash every weekend between now and then do it. Just plan on 1 competition next year. Ask the parents for a donation of $10.00 a month for $120.00, that will add up quickly. I hate to see any team fall and yes I worry about our team next year. We seen this coming and we are planning for the possiblity