Vallone pushing private/parochial school tax break

Councilmember Peter Vallone, Jr., will push for legislation that will offer tax breaks for families of private and parochial school students.
“Catholic schools are closing because they are too expensive, and public schools are bracing for even more overcrowding,” Vallone said. “Our hardworking families need these credits now before it’s too late.”
Families of private and parochial school students pay for their children’s’ tuition and pay taxes that support the public school system, in effect paying twice for education. Vallone’s legislation would provide tuition tax credits for families who meet certain financial criteria. When asked to clarify who met the certain financial criteria Vallone said it was for every middle class family.
“I believe we should probably eliminate the top tax bracket,” he said, adding that he considers this bracket to be anyone who made over $250,000. “We should allow everyone else to get these credits and it has to happen soon because Catholic schools are closing.”
Thirty-one Catholic elementary schools and one high school in the Archdiocese of New York, including 15 within Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, face possible closure.
“Declining enrollment and rising tuition are key challenges facing those schools that have been identified as ‘at-risk,’” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy J. McNiff. “These under-enrolled schools require significant financial support from the archdiocese, which cannot be sustained indefinitely.”
The Archdiocese of Brooklyn, which covers both Brooklyn and Queens, has closed 46 of its schools since 2005. Enrollment in the schools has dropped by about 20 thousand students since 1998.
Vallone can already count on some support for his plan.
“There are similar pieces of legislation in the State Senate I co-sponsored and I will certainly support this legislation,” said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
Rory Lancman, Assembly Member of District 25, said in an interview that he has not seen the bill yet, and therefore cannot comment on it.