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TAXPAYERS, LOWER YOUR TAXES AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS!
 
TAX CREDIT: HOW DOES IT WORK?

A Tax Credit, which is the dollar-for dollar reduction of your tax liability, is better than a tax deduction, which only reduces your taxable income before taxes are computed.

Instead of sending all your state taxes to the State of Arizona, you can make a contribution to a public school. A.R.S. §43-1089.01 allows taxpayers a TAX CREDIT  up to $200.00 for “Single” or “Head of Household” tax filers and up to $400.00 for “Married Couple Filing a Joint Return” when contributing to EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES in public schools. This gives you the opportunity to help your local school. The tax credit is available to all taxpayers, regardless of whether they have children in school. It would be advisable to consult your tax advisor regarding your specific tax status.

What is an EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY?

Extracurricular activity means any optional, non-credit educational or competitive school sponsored activity that supplements the education program of the school. Activities such as sports, visual and performing arts, field trips, outdoor education or character education programs can be funded with tax credit money. Extracurricular activities do not include any events that are recreational, amusement or tourist activities.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
You may select which school and which program you would like to support. The amount of the tax credit you take does not have to be for the total allowance. You can make a difference in our schools with just $50.00, $75.00, or $100.00. In addition, the credit may be split between one or more schools and/or one or more programs. 

HOW CAN I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX CREDIT? UPDATE

Complete the attached form and return to the school of your choice by April 15, 2020 or mail to the District Office prior to April 15, 2020 in order to take it off your State of Arizona taxes at the time you file for 2019. Arizona Tax Credit Donation Form
Create an online payment by going to this link  

It is easy! The District will provide you with a receipt verifying that you have contributed to an eligible extracurricular activity.

For more information contact Wendy Taylor at the District Office, 623-535-6000.

When you provide a check as payment, you authorize the Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD) either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction

Arizona's Open Meeting Law

 

It is the public policy of this state that meetings of public bodies be conducted openly and that notices and agendas be provided for such meetings which contain such information as is reasonably necessary to inform the public of the matters to be discussed or decided. Accordingly, Arizona’s Open Meeting Law must be construed in favor of open and public meetings.

Meeting Notices, Agendas, and Minutes are often available on the public bodies’ website.

What is a meeting?

A meeting is defined as a gathering, in person or through technological devices, of a quorum of members of a public body at which they discuss, propose, or take legal action. This includes any gathering, regardless of its label that falls within this definition. Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 38-431(4).

What is a public body?

A public body means the legislature, all boards and commissions of this state or political subdivision, all multi-member governing bodies of departments, agencies, institutions and instrumentalities of the state or political subdivisions, including without limitation all corporations and other instrumentalities whose boards of directors are appointed or elected by the state or political subdivision. Includes all quasi-judicial bodies and all standing, special or advisory committees or subcommittees of, or appointed by, such public body. Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 38-431(6).

What is a quorum?

A quorum is a majority of the members of the public body unless otherwise provided by law. For purposes of computing whether a quorum is present, vacancies must be included unless otherwise provided for by law.

May board members discuss issues or express opinions to the public outside a properly noticed meeting?

Yes. Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 38-431.09 clarifies that if a member of a public body individually expresses an opinion or discusses an issue with the public, through public broadcast or at a venue other than a public meeting, the member is not in violation of the open meeting law, if the opinion is not directed at another public official and there is no concerted plan to engage in collective deliberation to take legal action.

May the public body prevent members of the public from speaking at a public meeting?

Yes. The open meeting law does not require that a public body offer a call to the public. The public has a right to attend meetings, not participate in meetings. Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. 78-1. If the public body allows a call to the public, the public body determines when attendees may address the public body and may place time restrictions.

In addition, the public body may not discuss or take action on matters raised during the call to the public that are not specifically identified on the agenda, but may respond to criticism, ask staff to review a matter, or ask that a matter be placed on a future agenda.

May a board member ask the staff to review a matter raised by a member of the public during the call to the public even if it was not an agenda item?

Yes. At the end of the call to the public, public officials may ask staff to review a matter, or ask that a matter raised by a member of the public be put on a future agenda.

Open Meetings – PUBLICATIONS