Tax Coalition Volunteers Help Return More Than $750,000 to the Local Economy

The Midcoast Maine Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CA$H) coalition had another record-breaking tax season, helping 443 taxpayers file federal and state income taxes that resulted in about $763,000 worth of federal and state refunds going back to the local economy.

This year the coalition was backed by an incredible crew of community and Bowdoin student volunteers who were honored last week at a volunteer recognition event at the Brunswick Inn. With such a great commitment from the community, the coalition was able to reach more individuals and families in the low- to moderate-income bracket and increased the amount of returns filed by about 21 percent from last year. Plus, nearly $269,000 worth of Earned Income Tax Credits were returned to the local economy. The EITC is the federal government’s largest anti-poverty program. The benefit is intended to reduce the tax burden on those workers and supplement wages.
“The service continues to serve a crucial need in the midcoast area, with the average wage of those served at about $20,000, every little bit saved during the tax preparation process makes a world of difference,” said Volunteers of America Project Director Sharon Ross.
Plus, volunteers help make the process less intimidating, as one client said, “I am like a fish out of water. Taxes [are]… definitely hard for me even just to get through the basics. These guys (Midcoast CA$H volunteers) were really on top of it.”
Since the 2007 tax season, the Midcoast Maine CA$H coalition has helped about 1,600 individuals and families with free tax preparation services, with more than $1.7 million being returned back to the local economy. During the 2011 tax season, CA$H Maine served about 3,633 Mainers, and $2,342,844 worth of EITC refunds was brought back to the state economy.
The Midcoast CA$H coalition was formed in the fall of 2006 in an attempt to educate the public about the Earned Income Tax Credit . The program was launched through a grant from the Department of Justice Weed & Seed Program, which was fiscally managed by Volunteers of America Northern New England, and funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  Funding this year was provided by an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant, Volunteers of America, and mini-grants from Key Bank, Annie E. Casey Foundation, United Way Mid Coast Maine, and One Economy.

Midcoast Maine CA$H partners are: Annie E.Casey Foundation; Bath Savings Institution; Bowdoin College; Brunswick Housing Authority; Casey Family Services; Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Money Management International, Maine; Downeast Energy; Goodwill Industries; Internal Revenue Service; Kennebec Intra-District Schools; Key Bank; Merrymeeting Adult Education; Midcoast Maine Community Action; One Economy; RSU1 Adult Education; United Way of Mid Coast Maine; University College at Bath/Brunswick; U.S. Department of HUD; Volunteers of America Northern New England; and Women, Work and Community.