INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF; SCHOOL AID FUND S.B. 1479:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 1479 (as introduced 9-10-08)
Sponsor: Senator Nancy Cassis
Committee: Finance
Date Completed: 9-10-08
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Income Tax Act to add the State School Aid Fund to the funds listed on the schedule of contribution designations (check-offs) included with a taxpayer's income tax return.
Under the Act, an individual may designate on his or her annual tax return that contributions of $5, $10, or more of his or her State income tax refund (or additional tax liability) be credited to any of the funds specified in the Act. The Department of Treasury must create a schedule of the specified check-offs to be included with an annual income tax return. New check-offs must be incorporated as soon as practical on the schedule, and the Department may discontinue a check-off that fails to raise $100,000 in a tax year for two consecutive years.
Currently, check-offs on the schedule include the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program, the Children's Trust Fund, the Prostate Cancer Research Fund, Amanda's Fund For Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment, the Animal Welfare Fund, and the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund. The bill would add a check-off for the State School Aid Fund.
(The State School Aid Fund, established by Article IX, Section 11 of the State Constitution, must be used exclusively for aid to school districts, higher education, and school employees' retirement systems, as provided by law.)
MCL 206.435 Legislative Analyst: Craig Laurie
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State government. Each time a check-off is added, the Department of Treasury incurs administrative costs for implementing the necessary changes to the forms, and for processing the various contributions. In 2005, the Department of Treasury received $2.2 million in total contributions to the three check-offs then available. On average, the total amount of contributions in a given tax year has ranged from $1.5 million to $3.5 million, and the amount per check-off has varied from $300,000 to $2.1 million. It is difficult to predict the popularity of a new check-off and whether the addition of choices for check-off contributions would increase the total amount of contributions, or reduce the distribution to any given fund.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1479/0708