Feds could consider school vouchers taxable income

Gov. Bill Lee speaks at the state Capitol on Sept. 16, 2019. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)

Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn told lawmakers Monday that the federal government may consider money families receive under the Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher program as taxable income.

(Update: There may be some backtracking going on.)

That may come as a surprise to lawmakers who voted for the bill that includes a provision stating that: “Funds received pursuant to this part …. do not constitute income of a parent of a participating student under title 67, chapter 2 or any other state law.”

As enacted, families in the Metro Nashville and Shelby County school districts earning up to 2.6 times the federal poverty level will be eligible for the program offering debit cards worth $7,376 — the equivalent of the average amount provided per student under the state’s school funding formula — to spend on expenses related to private school education. For a family of five, the income limit would be set at $76,500.

Schwinn told reporters after a House budget hearing that the tax determination was reached in consultation with the state Attorney General’s office.