Res. No. 925
Resolution calling upon the Governor and the New York State Legislature to enact S. 1939, which would provide a tuition tax credit to the families of private and parochial school students who demonstrate financial need.
By Council Members Vallone Jr., Oddo, Gennaro, Gentile, McMahon, Recchia Jr., Sears and Gallagher
Whereas, According to the Catholic Conference, approximately 300,000 students attend Catholic schools in New York State; and
Whereas, Many thousands more attend non-Catholic parochial schools statewide; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Education Department, more than 400,000 students attended private school statewide in 2000, and private organizations like The Heritage Foundation place the number of private school students at more than 475,000 statewide; and
Whereas, Such private and parochial schools provide a quality education to the students who attend them, and serve a vital role in meeting the educational needs of parents and their children; and
Whereas, The public school system, particularly in New York City, is overcrowded and lacks the capacity to provide seats for all of the children who currently attend private or parochial schools; and
Whereas, If a significant number of parents were unable to send their children to private and parochial schools in the coming years, the public school system would be overwhelmed with additional students for whom it could not provide a classroom seat in a school of similar pedagogical quality and that would be not overcrowded; and
Whereas, The tuition costs of private and parochial schools have risen recently to levels that many families find difficult to meet within their annual budgets; and
Whereas, Parents who send their children to private or parochial school also pay taxes that are used to support the public school system, in effect paying twice for their children’s education; and
Whereas, One effective way of providing financial relief to such parents would be the provision of a tuition tax credit, which would offset New York State income tax to the extent of the tuition that parents pay to private and parochial schools; and
Whereas, S. 1939, currently before the State Senate, would provide for such a tax credit and would ensure that such tax credit would be fairly and equitably offered to families that demonstrate financial need; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Governor and the New York State Legislature to enact S. 1939, which would provide a tuition tax credit to the families of private and parochial school students who demonstrate financial need.
MHG
LS# 2460, 2673
April 7, 2005