Greg Roach's Berkshires Blog
Thursday, May 08, 2008
  Not a Good Idea
While I agree with the sentiment that wealthy colleges sometimes act more like hedge-fund managers than institutions of higher learning, taxing their endowments is bad policy:
Legislators have asked state finance officials to study a plan that would impose a 2.5 percent annual assessment on colleges with endowments over $1 billion, an amount now exceeded by nine Massachusetts institutions. The proposal, which higher education specialists believe is the first of its kind across the country, drew surprising support at a debate on the State House budget last week and is attracting attention in higher education circles nationally.
I *would* support a bill forcing these colleges to waive tuition for all students who qualify for financial aid. Or, maybe, if a tax is inevitable, having the revenues go to a trust fund to pay for scholarships state wide. But tossing it into the general budget would simply be a money grab and piss off a lot of philanthropists.

Here's the money (pun intended) quote of the article:
"The Williams indoor golf nets are paid by all of us through federal tax policy," said Sloane, a Williams College graduate. "These institutions have brought this upon themselves."
That's gonna' leave a mark. Somehow I doubt Mr. Sloane is coming back for reunion week.
 
Comments:
I think its a tough sell to call an institution non-profit that has a mult-billion dollar endowment managed by professional investors making 10% or more.

I like your compromise.
 
Yes, I also agree that your idea is the right answer. But then it begs the question.....why ain't these monies taxed already? They are given for the sole purpose of a tax advantage for the donner. Is this another one of those "Loop Holes" that our reps refuse to close?
 
People always speak of the wonderful Alumni (of any college) and the giving they do, I find it very interesting that most agree the giving would dry up if the donations where subject to taxation.
 
Post a Comment



<< Home
A blog of random thoughts and reactions emanating from the bank of a mountain stream in the farthest reaches of the bluest of blue states.

ARCHIVES
May 2006 / June 2006 / August 2006 / September 2006 / October 2006 / November 2006 / December 2006 / January 2007 / February 2007 / March 2007 / April 2007 / May 2007 / June 2007 / July 2007 / August 2007 / September 2007 / October 2007 / November 2007 / December 2007 / January 2008 / February 2008 / March 2008 / April 2008 / May 2008 / June 2008 / July 2008 / August 2008 / September 2008 / October 2008 / November 2008 / December 2008 / January 2009 / February 2009 / March 2009 / April 2009 / May 2009 / June 2009 / July 2009 / August 2009 / September 2009 / October 2009 / November 2009 / December 2009 / January 2010 / February 2010 / March 2010 / April 2010 / May 2010 / January 2011 / May 2011 / June 2011 / July 2011 / October 2011 /



CONTACT:
greg at gregoryroach dot com

"Livability, not just affordability." - Dick Alcombright




My ongoing campaign for North Adams City Council

iBerkshires' Online Event Calendar



Because a Chart is Worth 1000 Words


Source:
Congressional Budget Office data

Powered by Blogger