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HELENA – Private-school students packed the Old Supreme Court gallery Thursday to hear a bill that would give tax credits to individuals or businesses that give money to private-school scholarship funds.
Senate Bill 342, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Essman, R-Billings, would give tax credits to those who give money to scholarship organizations that help send low-income students to a private school. Donors would receive an 80 percent tax credit on their gift. The total amount of tax credits allowed would be capped at $10.3 million.
Opponents said the tax credit will hurt the state by taking away $10.3 million in revenue that might otherwise go to public education. They also described the bill as an attempt to make the state subsidize private education.
Eric Feaver, director of the Montana Educators Association/Montana Federation of Teachers, said SB 342 is a new version of school voucher bills that have failed in past sessions.
“To drive public money into the private sector is just simply wrong,” Feaver said. He also said it is unconstitutional for the state to fund sectarian schools.
But Essman said the bill would simply give 2,600 Montana children the ability to be placed in a private school they would other wise be unable to attend. He insisted it was not an appropriation or a grant of state money.
“The bill would offer an opportunity these 2,600 students of limited means who are not now able to attend the private school of their choice to have that choice,” Essman said.
Parents of students in private schools told lawmakers the bill would help them pay tuition. Private-school administrators from around the state said the scholarship organizations would help them attract more students.
But Don Jones, a Helena School Board member, said tax credits for private education weakens the separation of church and state.
The Office of Public Instruction, the Montana School Board Association and the American Civil Liberties Union also opposed the bill.
- by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy
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