The Peru Gazette

The Adirondack Region Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition recently completed a very successful income tax assistance program that proved extremely beneficial for many low to moderate income people throughout Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties.

John Bernardi, Executive Director of the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc and chairman of the EITC Coalition, reported that he had been informed by IRS representative Kathy McNulty, that $5,901,368 in federal tax refunds have been secured for eligible residents this tax season.  Of the total received from the refunds $1,479,999 was Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) dollars.  The records indicate that 4,885 returns were prepared between all the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Clinton, Essex & Franklin Counties.

VITA sites were set up in all three counties to serve those seeking the free income tax filing service.  In Clinton County the Senior Citizens Council on North Catherine Street in Plattsburgh served as a site along with a Fast site at The Plattsburgh Library. In Essex County the OneWorkSource in Elizabethtown, The Sherman Free Library and St. Patrick’s Parish Center in Port Henry. The Lake Placid Public Library and the Senior Citizen’s Club in Schroon Lake. In Franklin County the OneWorkSource in Malone and the Akwesasne Housing Authority. Bernardi said, “The efforts of our Coalition are particularly important because we are helping individuals and families who really need the money. It’s good for them and it’s good for our economy.”

Members of the EITC Coalition are The United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc., OneWorkSource, Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc. (ACAP), Senior Citizens Council of Clinton County, Office for the Aging, Department of Social Services, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Joint Council for Economic Opportunity Inc. (JCEO)  American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Ufirst Credit Union, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Family Welcome Center of CVES and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Champlain National Bank, Akwesasne Housing Authority, North Country Community College.