Ga. tax changes aim to help those formerly in foster care
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Monday, restrictions for charitable contributions to the Georgia foster care tax credit were lifted.
The Fostering Success Act initiated the tax credit program in 2023. In the first year, the tax credit raised $11.6 million. The funds help former foster children who have exited the program.
State Representative Mark Newton said caring for these foster children shouldn’t stop at 18.
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“We look at over 4,000 bills a year that come through. None of them are more important than the work this chamber and our governor has done for adoption and foster care,” said Newton.
Fostering Success Act Inc. (FSA), a nonprofit, is one of the qualified foster care organizations approved by the state to receive the funds.
The law required that FSA and other nonprofits have qualifications to receive the funds. They can use the funds to pay for medical care, counseling, food, car repairs or a place to live for the young adults who age out of foster care.
Mike Conger, a former foster youth from Valdosta, said he had not received dental care in nine years. He was a graduate student taking online courses. He was experiencing tooth pain.
“I don’t know how I would have survived without it. The tax credit paid for hotel rooms, gas, car repairs and food so I could travel to Atlanta and get my teeth repaired at a charity dental clinic. I was in so much pain from my broken teeth I could hardly eat,” said Conger.
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Heidi Carr, FSA’s executive director, praised the elimination of contributions at a press conference on Monday. Any business or individual taxpayer can apply to contribute any amount so long as the $20 million cap has not been met. Currently, there is still over $19 million available.
“We need Georgia taxpayers to step up and help us further our impact across the state and help us provide young Georgians with the necessities resources and they need to successfully create a better life for themselves. We need taxpayers to step up like is done with other state tax credits that are maxed out usually within the first week, an application opens up,” said Carr.
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