HARRISBURG – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) has joined a statewide call by legislators to Gov. Tom Wolf, urging him to fulfill his statutory obligation to administer the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program without delay.
Immediate action is required to prevent the loss of up to $150 million in scholarships in the coming year that benefit Pre-K through high school students across Pennsylvania.
“EITC dollars are different from state budget funds, and there is no reason to withhold them. These are tax credits that enable businesses to donate to educational organizations that benefit public and nonpublic schools alike,” Gabler said.
“To hold this money hostage is to potentially disrupt the educational path of young Pennsylvanians for no good reason. While we may not have a state budget in place, we have businesses that have made investments in their communities through EITC and students who stand to benefit from those investments. The governor has not only the authority, but the legal and moral obligation to administer this program.”
EITC allows eligible businesses to receive a partial tax credit on donations made to educational improvement organizations. These organizations then use these funds to assist students in various ways, such as providing scholarships to students who attend nonpublic schools, and by providing funding for many extracurricular and advanced programs in public schools. Without these funds, many nonpublic schools in our state risk closure, and certain public school programs face cuts.
“The legislation that created the EITC program was written specifically to keep these funds separate from the state’s General Fund,” added Gabler. “The governor is wrong to argue that EITC funds depend on the enactment of a state budget. His actions threaten to deny these students and their families, as well as the schools that are involved, access to money they deserve and depend upon.”
Schools and institutions that depend on EITC funds include the DuBois Area Schools Educational Foundation, which benefits local public school programs, as well as the following non-public schools: DuBois Area Catholic School, Elk County Catholic High School, St. Leo’s Elementary, St. Boniface Elementary and DuBois Christian School.
Questions about this event or any state-related matter may be directed to Gabler’s DuBois office at 814-375-4688, his St. Marys office at 814-781-6301 or Clearfield office at 814-765-0593.