N.Y. bishops ‘applaud’ Hochul’s decision

(Courtesy photo of Cindy Schultz)

By opting in to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, Governor Kathy Hochul is helping to empower New York families to provide the best education for their children, regardless of income or where they choose to send their children to school, at no additional cost to the state.

We are sincerely grateful and we applaud her decision to put New York’s kids first.

The new program provides a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 for individual tax filers and $3,400 for joint filers for gifts to qualified scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) that support children’s educational activities. These SGOs help families of children in public, religious, independent and charter schools with expenses such as tuition, after-school enrichment programs, tutoring, special needs services, transportation, uniforms, books and supplies, and equipment.

With many New Yorkers struggling to afford basic necessities, these scholarships are a critical lifeline. But because the federal legislation requires state governors to opt in to the program, New York’s participation was no sure thing. Governor Hochul understands that this program does not take a single dollar from public school education funding and it will help thousands of families. Rather than sending this money out of state, she has chosen to keep it in New York to help New York’s kids. While such a decision is common sense from a policy perspective, it nevertheless required political courage and will.

A rising tide lifts all boats, and our expectation is that the new tax credit will spur significant giving to new and pre-existing SGOs that provide scholarships to students in our state’s Catho­lic schools, as well as to SGOs that provide critical support to students in public schools. We thank the governor for her support, and we encourage New Yorkers to learn more about this important effort.

Most Rev. Ronald A. Hicks

Archbishop of New York

Most Rev. Mark O’Connell

Bishop of Albany

Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan

Bishop of Brooklyn

Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher

Bishop of Buffalo

Most Rev. Terry R. LaValley

Bishop of Ogdensburg

Most Rev. John S. Bonnici

Bishop of Rochester

Most Rev. John O. Barres

Bishop of Rockville Centre

Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia

Bishop of Syracuse

And the Auxiliary and Emeritus Bishops of NYS