Alliance Meeting Minutes:
Minutes
NH Statewide EITC Alliance
May 10, 2005
Centennial Senior Center, Concord, NH
Present: Val Long, Suzann Knight, Dennis Shea, Patricia Pelletier, Wayne Croteau, Tammi Bond, Sam Chase, Cathy Flynn, Cary Gladstone, Gregg Woodes, Joy Barrett, Marie Demers, Martha Abbot Hill, Bill Knowles
1. Review of This Past Tax Season
Sharing of what worked and what could have improved from this past tax season.
Gregg Woodes reported that the collaborative relationship between the Nashua Economic Opportunity Center (EOC) VITA site and the AARP site at the Nashua Library worked effectively to increase the number of people served in Nashua. The number going to the Library nearly doubled from last year. Joy mentioned that this was facilitated by flyers advertising all of the free tax preparation sites in Nashua (EOC, Nashua Public Library and the Triangle Credit Union).
Tammi Bond mentioned that Franklin ABC wants to look at working more closely in a different way with AARP in Franklin. Both the Franklin VITA site and AARP site share the same building and it would be beneficial if AARP referred EITC clients to the VITA site so that other services (asset building, referral, etc.) can be provided to EITC clients.
In Gorham, the new tax preparation site was an AARP/Family Resource Center collaboration and worked well. Sam Chase and Marie Demers worked together to provide services to all who made appointments for free tax preparation. Will continue as an appointment-only site, but will provide tax preparation assistance on weekends and evenings.
The Manchester Community Resource Center (MCRC) learned a great deal this year about how best to serve their population. They have high numbers – more than they can accommodate - and next year are devoting all agency resources to tax prep for the entire month of February. One lesson learned is that if you want high volume, you have to have walk-in service. The Beech Street and Wilson Street schools in Manchester are potential tax preparation sites, as well as the PAL Center. These sites are in the lowest-income areas of Manchester.
Sam Chase mentioned that the AARP site at the Lancaster Library is walk-in and people come in two hours ahead of time to have their taxes done. But many sites need to be by appointment rather than walk-in because of staffing.
Dennis reported that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and the Hooksett Public Library were open 12 hours/week for tax preparation this past year. Dennis teaches a VITA course (for credit) and has students prepare taxes as part of their assigned work. He uses the IRS intake sheet with a signature and keeps the records, then shreds at the end of the year. This past year had 187 returns. The Hooksett Library was slower (third year). He is thinking of branching out to Manchester Housing Authority.
Bill Knowles at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) does not have a formal course with credit, but has students run the VITA site under his supervision. He is working on getting credit for a course in the future. Bill is looking at other sites where his students could reach low-income clients. Tried to set a site up at the mall, but that didn’t pan out. But, if Bill collaborated with the Community Action Program (Patricia Pelletier), he would have access to the client population, and he has the expertise. This would be a good team effort.
2. Best Practices
A draft "Best Practices" document has been developed with input from VITA sites around the state. Input will be gathered as to the best use of this document.
Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is one area all are working on. Joy mentioned that there are different populations that need different types of education. Additionally, financial literacy will be continuing throughout the year:
Nashua – yes
MCRC – yes (and do IDA’s there)
Franklin – yes (also collaborating with CATCH)
ESL – yes
Gorham – Family Lifeskills (which teaches financial literacy) is taught there and have AHEAD class
Franklin Savings Bank has extended the Smart CD: after 6 months the coalition will match the 1st $100, after the 1st year, the coalition will add another $100.
Self-Sufficiency
One goal for next year is to teach clients to prepare their own tax refund so that they can prepare their refund in subsequent years. Some VITA sites are set up to do that: Nashua EOC, Family Resource Center @ Gorham, MCRC, etc. Cathy mentioned that Tax Wise will be offered online next year.
It was mentioned that some people go to an AARP/VITA site to have their taxes done for free, then go to H&R Block for digital transmission. The fee is lower. We did see an increase in marketing for paid tax preparers, such as H&R Block, especially TV commercials. Gregg reported that IRS.com is an H&R Block web site. Joy asked if H&R Block could be part of the solution rather than the problem? Perhaps they could be on the different coalitions in each community. Should investigate, maybe some other states do this.
Statewide Statistics
Gregg and Cathy handed out 2005 statewide statistics:
58,105 Individuals and families earning EITC
$88,188,395 EITC dollars received by NH residents
$1,517 Average EITC for NH residents
320,389 Wage earners making less than $34,178
8,887 Potential additional eligible NH residents
$13,228,259 Potential EITC dollars for NH residents
5,309 Volunteer prepared returns
25% of those who received the EITC used Refund Anticipation Loans (RAL’s).
Other
Suzann mentioned that she will be on study leave for the months of July and August and will be putting together an EITC “tool kit” for coalitions. She will provide more information about this at a later date.
With regard to advertising next year, we need to consider providing information in different languages. Also, one objective for the state is to get more public libraries involved as sites.
3. Review of NH Help Line Statistics
The NH Help Line took calls during this tax season and referred callers to AARP/VITA sites throughout the state. You will receive a copy of the statistics. We'll also discuss how this worked and what can be improved this next year.
Val reported that the calls to the NH Help Line increased significantly from last year, probably because of the increased media (radio and television commercials). Last year, there were 25 calls the NH Help Line, and this year 338 calls. The call sheets in the Alliance folder were broken down by month, town and number of calls. The NH Help Line staff took calls from people from throughout the state and referred to free tax preparation sites in their area (AARP and VITA). They also answered simple questions from people about EITC.
4. Review of Media Reach
The television and radio commercials were aired throughout the state during this tax season. A review of the reach and frequency will be provided.
The Alliance packet also included documentation of media frequency, both radio and TV. We received free PSA time as a result of purchasing media time from radio and TV stations. Usually, the free time is a 50/50 match.
5. NH EITC Web Site
New this year, is the development of a NH EITC web site. Your input is important to the successful development of this web site. The web site will be constructed over the next six months.
A draft web site map was included in the Alliance packet. Val explained that a EITC web site for NH will be developed by Val and Suzann and your input will be greatly appreciated. Please email Val with comments after you have reviewed the site map. There are some very good EITC web sites in other states, and we want ours to be helpful for both professionals as well as non-professionals.
6. Alliance Logo
A draft Alliance logo will be shared and discussed.
A draft logo was shared in the packet, but the consensus was that it wasn’t so much a logo as a descriptive illustration of how the Alliance works. Joy mentioned that a logo should be symbolic, and when you look at it will provide an idea of the purpose of the alliance/coalition. Examples are the dump truck with money – Franklin, and the arm with muscle pumping a dollar sign – Nashua. Val will work with The Brodeur Group for the development of the logo.
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