HUSD - Higley High School

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December 9, 2009

Dear Higley High Parent/Guardian,

As the Principal of Higley High School, and on behalf of the Higley High Site Council, I am writing to ask for your support for Higley High School. Arizona State Law (ARS 43-1089.01) allows you to receive a tax credit when you contribute up to $400 (for joint tax returns) or $200 (for individual returns) to a public school for extracurricular actives that may require an enrolled student to pay a fee. Instead of the money going to the state treasury, it goes straight to helping our students. These funds are earmarked for Higley High School and do not supplement the district budget.

Here is how it works. Your family donates $400 dollars to Higley High School; in return you get a $400 Arizona state tax credit. If your family were to owe $400 in state tax, you would not have to pay anything in April. Or, if your family didn’t owe any state tax, you would receive a $400 refund from the Arizona Treasury after you file your tax return. This is literally a dollar for dollar reduction in your state tax return.

How will Higley High use these funds?
Since 2005, the year that this law went into affect, our school has used these funds for enrichment activities for Higley High students. These activities include tutoring services, guest speakers, field trips and enhanced athletic and extra curricular programs that our students may not be able to participate in otherwise. Unfortunately, the Higley Unified School District cannot fund every program, needing to prioritize limited dollars for the most essential materials and tasks. This results in a recurring need for Higley High School to raise money every year to sustain these additional programs.

Who can participate in this tax credit program?
Anyone who pays Arizona income tax! Up to $400 (joint return) or $200 (individual return) can be claimed on any Arizona taxpayer’s state income tax form. It is not limited to parents of students at the school. Friends, relatives and neighbors without children in school who live anywhere in the state of Arizona can contribute to Higley High School.

How can you participate in the program?
It’s easy! You can donate to Higley High School online by visiting husd.org and clicking on the Tax Credit Donation tab on the HUSD homepage. Or, you may complete a tax credit donation form located in the Higley High School main office and attach your check for any amount. In either case you will receive a receipt for up to $400 dollars, which you then use to claim the tax credit when filling out your Arizona income tax return.

This year we are trying to raise $80,000 in tax credit donations. With over 1,000 Higley High families and a maximum contribution for tax credit of $400, there’s more than $400,000 available to us year after year. With your help we can achieve this goal and continue to provide the extracurricular and supplemental programs that make our students’ high school experience rich and rewarding.

Why not keep some of our state tax money right here at home?

Sincerely,
Larry Rother
Principal

Jimmy Brendlinger
Parent

Shannon Felix
Parent

Vicki Nawrocki
Parent

Kathy Jeffrey
Parent 4068 East Pecos Road. Gilbert, AZ, 85295 | Phone: (480) 279-7300 | Fax: (480) 279-7305