Title
Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan - Heart of Florida Prosperity Campaign (NB)
explanation
The Heart of Florida Prosperity Campaign is a coalition of organizations focused on bringing a portion of the approximately $8 million (2002) in unclaimed Earned Income Tax Credits to North Central Florida and to the people who have earned them. The Heart of Florida Prosperity Campaign provides free electronic tax preparation to low to moderate income taxpayers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are open at convenient times and locations in and around Gainesville, Florida.
Recommendation
The City Commission hear a presentation from Odetta MacLeish-White regarding the Heart of Florida Prosperity Campaign and consider supporting this effort by approving any or all of the following recommendations:
1) encourage city employees to volunteer for training to prepare tax returns (accountants and attorney's receive continuing education credits for this training),
2) provide VITA sites where available,
3) utilize Channel 12 to publicize the availability of this service,
4) donate or purchase computers to assist in this mission, and
5) refer to Charter Officers for further recommendations.