| VCTA Adopts Resolution to SUPPORT the "I REFUSE" Movement |
| The VCTA's name has been added to the many supporters of the "I Refuse" movement. Visit the NYS Allies for Public Education website to view the resolution, and see an up-to-date list of supporters and/or download a refusal letter to be utilized on behalf of your child. |
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| UNFI Tax Breaks are Unnecessary and Unfair to VCSD |
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| Sign the Petition urging UNFI to pay its local school taxes in full now by selecting the picture above or the link below! UNFI’s $18 Million in Tax Breaks Hurt Our Kids: www.unfipayyourtaxes.org |
| Did you Know: |
- IDAs (Industrial Development Agencies), in collaboration with Town Boards, can reach PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreements with businesses that waive school taxes for these businesses without School Board/District approval?
- A PILOT deal was reached with UNFI (United Natural Foods Inc.) while the VCSD was rolling back kindergarten from full to half day and completely eliminating elementary music, art and library. During this same time, fundraising activities were necessary to save activities such as sports for students.
- After the PILOT deal was reached with UNFI, the Montgomery Town Board raised its taxes by 16.58%, well above any increase the school district has ever requested of the community? The difference: The voters do not get to vote on this unilateral increase by the Town..
- These UNFI tax breaks were unnecessary as Montgomery was the ideal central location for UNFI’s new distribution center.
- NYS State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli stated: "Taxpayers are not getting enough bang for their buck when it comes to IDAs. Residents, particularly those in high-cost regions such as Long Island and the mid-Hudson Valley, have every right to question whether the additional tax breaks are producing promised economic benefits."
- DiNapoli’s press release further states: “…that there appears to be limited correlation between higher tax exemptions and job creation… school tax breaks accounted for $394 million [in NYS]…[the] additional taxes a typical homeowner may be paying to cover the exemptions...[is]...up to $140 more per year in local taxes depending on where they live, according to the report.”
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| The NYS Authorities Budget Office (ABO) was critical of the deal reached between the Town of Montgomery IDA and UNFI. Read the report below along with other related materials. |
- VCTA President Statement to UNFI Board of Directors (Sacramento, California; December 17, 2014) This was the second consecutive statement make to the UNFI Board of Directors. The first statement (below) was made on December 18, 2013 in Rhode Island.
- UNFI Appeal for Justice: An Appeal to UNFI to pay its Fair Share of Taxes
- UNFI Fact Sheet—April 2014: UNFI Background; Environmental and Community Impact of UNFI's Mega Distribution Center in NYS
- State Investigation Finds UNFI Given $14 Million Without Due Process: Summary Statement of ABO's Findings From New Yorkers Against Industrial Development Tax Abuse (March 28, 2014)
- Authorities Budget Office (ABO) Report: (March 17, 2014) Final Report on the Investigation of the Complaint Against the Town of Montgomery Industrial Development Agency (IDA)
- Wallkill Valley Times Article (April 9, 2014): State Finds Flaws in Montgomery IDA Process
- Press Release: (February 10, 2014) Legislators and Advocates Call for Reforms at Economic Development Budget Hearing in Albany
- VCTA President's Statement at ALLIGN Rally (February 10, 2014)
- James P. Hoffa Huffington Post Article (January 28, 2014): Tax Dodging by Big Business Hurts Our Kids and is Not Sustainable
- Wallkill Valley Times Article (January 1, 2014): Montgomery Project Under Fire; Protesters Critical of UNFI Tax Breaks
- VCTA President Statement to UNFI Board of Directors (Rhode Island; December 18, 2013) This was the first of two consecutive statements made to the UNFI Board of Directors. The second statement (above) was made on December 17, 2014 in California.
- VCTA President Statement to Town of Montgomery Board (June 24, 2013)
- Investigation Request: New Yorkers Against Industrial Development Tax Abuse Request to ABO for an Investigation into the Town of Montgomery IDA's Approval of Taxpayer-Funded Financial Assistance for UNFI
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 Member Action Center (MAC): The MAC is here to help make your voice heard and to build the movement around the priorities that matter most to all of us: education, healthcare, and issues that affect us all as working people. The only way for this to work is through member registration. Select the MAC link. Once there, all you need to do to register is enter your email address. You will then begin to get emails when NYSUT needs you to log on to contact your local legislators through sending faxes and emails. That process is almost as painless as the initial registration. You will be asked to input information including your name and your home zip code. The rest is done for you. |
| Montgomery Food Pantry: Select this link to download a Payroll Deduction Form for the Food Pantry. If you choose to participate, deductions for the Food Pantry will be taken two times per month from October to June (i.e. 18 deductions). For example $1 per pay will equal $18 per year (i.e. $1 x 18 pays = $18 per year), whereas $3 per pay will equal $54 per year (i.e. $3 x 18 pays = $54 per year). All deductions will be deposited into a designated account and then forwarded to the Food Pantry. By agreeing to payroll deduction you can ensure that the Montgomery Food Pantry receives your funding monthly, making their mission of providing food to Valley Central families and children more efficient. |
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| VC
Echoes: June 2016 |
 Visit Echoes Archives to read past issues and Journalism Awards to view
honors received by our past and present editors. |
| NYSUT Communcations Competition (2014) |
Congratulations to
Editor Meghan Rilley for her continued success. Thank you to all Echoes contributors
for their contributions and hard work. The VCTA
won the following awards at the 2014 NYSUT Communications Conference:
- First Place, Best Column by a Leader, “Christmas Wish List,” December 2013, Volume 16, Issue 3
- Award of Distinction, Best Overall Graphic Design, “Abandon Hope? Losing Hope? Finding Hope…,” May 2013, Volume 15, Issue 5
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