The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current, September 30, 2024, Image 3

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The Islander., September 30, 2024, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextSeptember 30, 2024, The Islander, Page 3 Georgians can use tax credit to help foster children By Pamela Permar-Shierling The Rev. Lynn Meadowss-White, Vice President of Church Relations / Chaplain, at The Methodist Home, spoke to the Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 18 about the Georgia Qualified Foster Child Donation Credit. Georgia O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.24 al lows a taxpayer to receive a tax credit for donations made to qualified foster child support organizations. A foster child support organization must apply and be certified by the Division of Family and Children Ser vices in order to be a qualified foster child support organization for Georgia tax purposes. The Methodist Home was founded in Macon in 1872 and has five cam puses in Georgia. “We take care of Georgia foster chil dren who cannot live with their fami lies,” White said. Currently there are 11,000 foster children in Georgia, “These children age out of the foster system at age 18,” White continued. “It is critical to tran sition them to adulthood. The gradua tion rate of these children is very low, some places 30 percent some places 50 percent.” “Georgia’s tax credit program rec ognizes that this transition time is dif ficult. If we can take care of them now, it will cost us less down the road,” she said. The purpose of Georgia’s tax credit is to support “aging foster children” and assist them in moving to indepen dent living, post secondary education, career training and employment. The tax credit process is pretty easy but does require pre-approval from the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR). To apply for a tax credit to donate to The Methodist Home, sim ply go to their website, themethodis- thome.org, and click on donate at the top of the page. The tax credit process will be ex plained and you can log into your ac count on the DOR website or create an account. Or you can electronically submit Form IT-QFCD-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center to request pre approval of the qualified foster child donation credit from the Department of Revenue. $20 million a year is allotted by the state for the tax credits. According to White only $11 million was accessed last year meaning $9 million was left on the table and only $2 million has been accessed this year. The Methodist Home serves 10 girls in Valdosta, 10 girls in Americus, 70 children in Macon, 10 boys in St. Marys, and 20 boys at The Carpen ter’s Way Ranch near Columbus. In other business: • Former Brunswick City Commis sioner and current Brunswick Plan ning and Appeals commission mem ber Julie Martin spoke briefly to the Chamber about Signature Squares and leveraging the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Grant. Signature Squares of Brunswick, Inc. (SSB) was incorporated as 501(c)3 in 2005. The grass roots organization has two primary missions: to work closely with the City of Brunswick to ensure funds are being budgeted each year to assist in the renovation of each of Brunswick’s 14 historic squares and to highlight the history of Brunswick as a Port City through interpretive signage in each square as well as on their website: signaturesquares.org. The City has applied for a $3 mil lion Georgia Department of Natu ral Resources Outdoor Stewardship Grant to complete restoration of the eight remaining squares. The grant requires a 25% match which without any ‘in-kind’ match the cash match would be $815,000. The city has $500,000 in SPLOST 2022 funding to leverage to ward the match leaving a balance of $315,000. The community do nors who contribute or pledge $15,000 or more will be recognized on per manent signage in each of the squares, a bench and plaque in the larger squares as well as recognition on the Signature Squares City’s websites. A ribbon cutting community cele bration is planned and all contributors will be recognized publicly as well. Martin said, “We are focusing on se curing a “Letter of Financial Commit ment” from donors by October 1, 2024. However, the funds do not need to be physically in-hand until late 2025 or early 2026, which gives planning time based on fiscal calendars for corporate giving.” • The Chamber’s Coffee and Con nections will be held at the Golden Isles College and Career Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 8 and the school’s path ways will be showcased. • Scott McQuade, CEO Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bu reau, told the board that July’s bed tax was down 10% mostly due to the short term rental sector. “We expect the occupancy rate to be down 4% for the next six months,” he said. “Room demand has been down every month since March which is due to inflation, the economy as well as the weather.” “We do plan to out perform the national trends, however,” McQuade said. • City Manager Regina McDuffie briefly mentioned the city’s housing program and introduced Chelsea Hill as the city’s new Housing Manager. She is currently Director of Business Development for the Downtown De velopment Authority. McDuffie also said the city hopes to start its transit program early 2025. The Methodist Home for Children & Youth We are your local handyman Lawrenc Let us help you with your ‘Honey Do’ List Tony Lawrence 912-778-8664 Don’t let moles make a mountain out of your yard Humane Removal of Wildlife Wildlife Removal Rodent Control Pest Control AOYEAfcs x ^ICRITTERI^ ffCONTROL 1983-202^ “Get Them Out Keep Them Out ” Forester Scarboro • Critter Control of Southeast Georgia (912) 771-8784 *(912) 704-3670 cell Fully Licensed and Insured Bats Rodents Raccoons Squirrels Birds IP'S Wine Come check out our NEW wine section!!! & Spirits The best prices, best selection, and best 1 service in town. Stop on by S see for yourself. <r1 3304 Glynn Ave, Brunswick I 912-264-3695 O © THIS JUST In store tastings every Friday 2-5 WINE 750 ml’s SPIRITS 1.75’s SONOMA CUTRER Chard $18.49 PINNACLE Vodka SHSl $18.67 FOGSCAPE VINEYARD Chard $17.99 SKYY Vodka $20.97 J LOHR RIVERSTONE Chard $13.49 GILBEY’S Vodka $ 15.97 SIMI SONOMA Chard $13.99 FRIS Vodka $ 12.97 WENTE MORNING FOG Chard $11.99 RAIN ORGANIC Vodka $ 18.99 ARIEL (non-Alch) Chard $ 9.99 SVEDKA Vodka $ 17.99 MATCHBOOK Chard S13.99 NUE Vodka $ 17.47 KENDALL JACKSON Chard $13.99 TEN HIGH Bourbon $ 14.99 FERRARI CARANO Chard $15.99 JIM BEAM Bourbon $29.99 BUTTER Chard $15.99 EVAN WILLIAMS Bourbon $25.97 LOUIS JADOT MACON VILLAGES fe $14.49 JAMESON IRISH $ 53.97 ZENATO Pinot Grigio $ 9.99 BOODLES Gin $ 39.99 FERRARI CARANO Fume $11.99 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin $ 39.97 BRANCOTT Flight Song Sauv Blanc $11.99 SOUTHERN COMFORT $ 19.97 KIM CRAWFORD Sauv Blanc $12.99 DEWARS Scotch $ 37.97 DASHWOOD Sauv Blanc $12.99 FAMOUS GROUSE Scotch ^ $29.99 JOEL GOTT Sauv Blanc $12.99 MALIBU COCONUT (all flavors) .Ei $ 29.99 NOBILO Sauv Blanc $10.99 RON RICO Rum $ 17.99 WHISPERING ANGEL Rose $24.49 MARGARITAVILLE Gold & Silver $21.47 LA VIEILLE FERME Rose $ 7.99 JOSE CUERVO Gold & Silver $ 39.47 PRUNUS Red JOSH Cab Sauv BONANZA Cab PASO-D’ORO Cab Sauv HAHN Cab Sauv Z. ALEXANDER BROWN (all varietals) RODNEY STRONG PinotNoir A&D PinotNoir RICKSHAW Pinot Noir HAHN PinotNoir ANGEUNE Pinot Noir TRIVENTO Malbec UNO 1 Malbec CH. MOULINAT Bordeaux New . Price - New V 3 Price ^ $12.99 $15.99 $19.99 $11.99 $10.49 $16.99 $13.99 $ 9.99 $11.99 $10.99 $ 9.99 $13.99 $ 9.99 Prices are subject to change without notice. Pricing effective 09/30/24; Pricing expires 10/07/24 New Drink of the Month! Do It Yourself Cocktail Mon - Thurs: 8am - 8pm Fri: 8am - 9pm Sat: 9am - 9pm Sun: 12:30pm-6:30