Moms Talk: House Bill 385

There is current proposed Georgia legislation that would require a sales tax on various nonprofit fundraisers. House Bill 385 is part of a Tax Reform of the 2010 Special Council that would eliminate this tax exemption status for various nonprofit organizations.

Vanessa Aguilar: Civic Organizations or nonprofits are what make Georgia strong. The current proposed legislation to tax nonprofit fundraisers will hurt many more than it will help. As an active member in the PTA and Boy Scouts, I know the challenges these organizations face doing fundraisers. To add another dimension of tax collection on a fundraiser will harm the good the organization is trying to do. When I first started out with PTA and Scouts, volunteers were plenty, then the economy slumped, and many parents who were active volunteers went back to work. Right now, because of the families' increased work load, volunteers are scarce. I cannot even imagine putting myself on the line to volunteer if the IRS is involved. I know I will be contacting my representatives and tell them to vote “no” to house bill 385.

Brandi May: My friend Bridgette put it so well- two Georgia Representatives have sponsored a bill that now requires all Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Cub Scouts to pay taxes on all cookies and popcorn sold. The sale of cookies and popcorn fund each troop's activities for the rest of the year - and I can say from experience these kids work hard for every penny they earn. There are only two scenarios that can unfold: a) we have to raise prices of cookies/popcorn which makes them even harder to sell in a down economy, hence, less sales for the Scouts or b) the tax will be paid out of the already limited final 'profit' which means less programs, less educational field trips, closed summer camps, etc. In essence, some of Georgia's most promising and model children suffer. They bust their rumps on weekends and weeknights after school manning booths and selling door to door. Channel (HD 116) and O'Neal (HD 146) are quite specifically poking our cubs in lines 1902 through line 1905 of the bill: http://www.gsgatl.org/hb385/pdf/pg55-hb385.pdf. Please e-mail and tell them this is a horrible idea!! We need to support our children and nurture them- not stunt their ability to do more and be more!

Please Help Our Scouts (it will literally take 5 mins or less)

1. Paste the e-mail template located here (http://www.gsgatl.org/hb385/parent_volunteer_sample_letters.htm) into a new e-mail.

2. Send the e-mail to your district's representative - or each of them if you have time: http://www.gsgatl.org/hb385/pdf/reps-senators.pdf

If you don't know your representative, it's easy to find.  

1. Go here: http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp/

2. Towards the bottom, it shows your "Georgia House: District xxx" and provides a hyperlink that provides their e-mail address.  

Kristi Vinson: I have been strongly committed to civic organizations supporting youth in our community for the past 23 years. I believe this proposed tax would have a strong negative impact on everything from scouts to PTA. Can you imagine having to dig a little deeper in your pocket to find the correct change for tax on that box of Girl Scout cookies? Many area youth organizations rely largely on fundraising efforts for their support. They have already felt the pinch of the economic downturn and have had to come up with more creative ways to fund their projects, I suggest the Georgia Legislature do the same. These are the very organizations that support our community and schools through their donations and charitable works. These organizations are the ones who would be impacted the most. This legislation is being considered right now. It is very confusing and filled with gobbledygook aimed at distracting the lay person. It is my understanding the proposed legislation would even impose a tax on church youth fundraisers. Shame on them. I urge you to contact your State Senator and your State House Representative and voice your opposition to House Bill 385.