Giving tax credits for private education tuition is a good idea.
That’s what many State Representatives and Senators seem to think. HB 1173 hasn’t yet caught the attention of any media… or the teachers union. It will.
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to establish an education property tax credit program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: Section 1. Any owner of property that is subject to taxation pursuant to chapter 10-4 may receive a property tax credit to be applied toward any property tax levied on the property for the school district in which the property is located. The reduction is based on education expenses the owner has incurred for any child who meets the following qualifications:
Incurred, eligible education expenses for which a property tax credit may be received pursuant to this Act include tuition and school fees for any child enrolled in a nonpublic school, and the purchase of curriculum and other necessary educational materials and resources. Section 2. The amount of the property tax credit received by any property owner in any yearmay not exceed the total amount of school district taxes owed to that school district by the owner for that year. In addition, the total amount of property tax credits received by an individual property owner or by multiple property owners pursuant to this Act for incurred eligible education expenses for any individual child in any year may not exceed eighty percent of the current year’s per student allocation in the general state aid to education formula as defined in subdivision 13-13-10.1(4). Section 3. To apply for a property tax credit pursuant to this Act, a property owner shall, prior to January first, submit an application to the county director of equalization stating that the person is the owner of the property and stating the name and school enrollment information for any child for whom the property owner has incurred eligible education expenses. The application shall be on a form prescribed by the Department of Education and shall be verified by the school in which each child is enrolled. On the application, the property owner shall list each eligible education expense the owner has incurred and the cost of each. The property owner shall sign the application under penalty of perjury and provide documentation to substantiate each expense listed. Section 4. The property tax bill sent to each taxpayer pursuant to § 10-21-1.1 shall reflect any property tax credits received pursuant to this Act. Section 5. The Department of Education shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to specify the forms and procedures for filing and processing requests for property tax credits under this Act and the documentation that is necessary to verify the eligible education expenses.
This bill has a curious mixture of support. Judging by the broad range of sponsorship, this may be a plan whose time has come!
***Gordon Howie is a nationally syndicated author, host of Liberty Today TV and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***
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