e-Voices February 5, 2007

Welcome to the e-Voices MONDAY MINUTE, your weekly email newsletter from New Mexico Voices for Children. Please take a minute to add your voice to the pressing issues of the day. Also, tell us what issues you'd like to know more about so we can tailor the MONDAY MINUTE to your interests. Thanks!

February 5, 2007

Did You Study?
OK, this isn't a test, per se, but it is worth extra credit! The Albuquerque Public School Mill Levy and School Board election is tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 6. Polls are open from 7am to 7pm. Passage of the Mill Levy would mean $167 million for school maintenance, like fixing leaky roofs, and would not raise property taxes. Three school board seats are also on the ballot - for districts 1, 2 and 4. And the extra credit? That great feeling you get when you exercise your most sacred civic right/duty!

For more election information, including a link to a map of the school board districts, go to the Albuquerque League of Women Voters' website here: http://www.lwvabc.org/election.html

To find out which candidates are endorsed by the Albuquerque Teachers' Federation, click here:
http://www.atfunion.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=308&Itemid

Phoning it in
A big thanks to everyone who called Governor Richardson's office last week regarding the Working Families Tax Credit. If you didn't get a chance to call (or did but would like to call again), please give him a call today or tomorrow morning, as one of the bills gets its first committee hearing tomorrow afternoon.

When you call, thank the governor for proposing the Working Families Tax Credit and ask him to make sure the credit includes ALL working families, especially low-income working families. The governor's office can be reached at (505) 476-2200.

As always, please be polite and courteous when calling.

Are You Prepared ... or a Preparer?
Speaking of taxes ... by now you should have received your W2 forms - those little carbon-copy slips that boil down a year's worth of hard work into a few small numbers.

As we've told you before, both the federal and state governments offer several tax credits and rebates for parents and low-income workers - literally hundreds of million of dollars of it. But much of it goes unclaimed either because people don't know about the credits or don't go to a competent tax preparer.

The good news is that NM Voices for Children has partnered with the National Women's Law Center on a campaign to educate tax preparers and non-preparers alike about three federal and two state tax credits for families with children:

The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit offsets up to $2,100 of the child or dependent care expenses that families incur in order to work each year.
The New Mexico Child Day Care Tax Credit can offset up to $1,200 per year.
The federal Earned Income Tax Credit helps provide a wage supplement for low-income families (with earnings under $38,348) up to $4,536 a year.
New Mexico's Low-Income Comprehensive Rebate can return up to $450 a year to families.
The federal Child Tax Credit offsets some of the costs of raising children, up to $1,000 per child.

To see if you or your clients are eligible, check out the summarized information about the credits here: www.nwlc.org/loweryourtaxes.

You can also get free tax preparation through TAX HELP New Mexico if you are over the age of 65 or have an annual income under $36,000. TAX HELP NM is a program of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). Get more information here: http://www.cnm.edu/taxhelp/.

Making a Statement
The work of the NM Race Matters Coalition has culminated in a joint memorial, which was introduced at the Roundhouse last week by Rep. Rick Miera (D-11). The bill (HJM 31) would require that certain future legislation be accompanied by a racial impact statement - meaning that it had been studied to determine if its passage would have any unintended consequences for racial minorities. While the scope of the memorial had to be pared down a bit from the original language, it still would accomplish its primary goal if it is passed. You can read the memorial text here: http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/_session.asp?w=com&year=07&chamber=H&type=JM&number=31

In response to Rep. Miera's sponsorship, the NM NAACP is honoring him at its annual legislative reception. Other state legislators will be honored for sponsoring other progressive legislation such as the minimum wage increase.

Save the date:
The NAACP Legislative Reception is this Friday, Feb. 9, 6pm, at the Lodge at Santa Fe, 750 N. St. Francis Drive. Refreshments will be served. Call 471-6633 or 983-3277 for more information.

The next Race Matters Task Force meeting is Wednesday, March 7, at 2pm. Click here to RSVP: http://www.nmvoices.org/racematters.htm

Last Call for Nominations!
Been meaning to nominate a young person for our 2007 Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award? Procrastinate no longer! The deadline is this Friday. Feb. 9, at 3pm. The award honors New Mexico youths (ages 13 through 26) who are making a difference in their communities through service work or outreach. This year we've split the award into two age groups - 13 to 18 and 19 to 26. One finalist and one winner will be selected from each of the age groups.

If you'd like a nomination packet mailed to you call 505-244-9505, ext. 10. You can also download the forms here: www.nmvoices.org/abysa.htm. The awards ceremony will be Friday, April 20, 2007, in Albuquerque.

Your financial support is critical to our work. Please consider making a contribution today at http://www.nmvoices.org/donate.htm