Did you know that a portion of your union dues for 2014 may be tax-deductible? Take a look at this chart to see how much can be deducted, and under what conditions.
Disclaimer: This blog post does not constitute tax advice. SCOPE cannot provide tax advice to individuals or organizations. If you have additional tax-related questions, please consult a tax professional.
The August 2014 SCOPE & Sequence newsletter has been published. Please click below to read an important letter from our union president, Dominic Marsano, regarding the upcoming contract negotiation process in 2015. Additional topics include information on the electronic grievance system, an update of SCOPE Executive Board contact information, and more! Check out the link below:
In May, ballots were counted for the 2014 SCOPE election. Here are the results:
SCOPE Vice President: Betsy Lavinder (88 votes)
SCOPE Treasurer: Marianne Huffman (89 votes)
Proposed Constitution & By-Laws Change: Yes (60 votes); No (36 votes)
OEA Delegates (7 slots available):
1. Tammy Koontz (63 votes)
2. Jack Rosenberry (63 votes)
3. Cindy Price (61 votes)
4. Todd Dygert (60 votes)
5. Bruce Moore (58 votes)
6. Gretchen Hull (56 votes)
7. Janet Carter (53 votes)
Chuck Steinbower–Alternate (52 votes)
David Keck–Alternate (1 vote)
Al Glitch–Alternate (1 vote)
William Robb–Alternate (1 vote)
Blair Copeland–Alternate (1 vote)
Yolanda Battle–Alternate (1 vote)
NEA Delegates (3 slots available):
1. Dominic Marsano (54 votes)
2. Tammy Koontz (42 votes)
3. Bruce Moore (40 votes)
Gretchen Hull–Alternate (36 votes)
Jack Rosenberry–Alternate (31 votes)
Cindy Price–Alternate (29 votes)
Todd Dygert–Alternate (24 votes)
Janet Carter–Alternate (20 votes)
David Keck–Alternate (1 vote)
Al Glitch–Alternate (1 vote)
Blair Copeland–Alternate (1 vote)
Executive Board:
OSSD (1 seat): Jen Bahary
OSSB (1 seat): Chris Ross
DYS (1 seat): Nola Derheimer
MISC (1 seat): Evan Struble
DRC (5 seats): Tammy Koontz, Jack Rosenberry, Bruce Moore, Todd Dygert, Diana Jackson
Congratulations to those elected or re-elected, and a hearty “thank you” to our SCOPE Elections Chair, Sally Kendall, and to all SCOPE members that voted!
As you may be aware, the process of filing a grievance within SCOPE has recently moved online in an electronic format, known as OH Grievance. Please bookmark the following link on your internet browser so that you will have easy access to the electronic grievance system.
https://oh-grievance.secure.force.com/AppLogin/SiteLogin
For SCOPE members’ convenience, the OH Grievance link has been embedded on the SCOPE web site under “Links” on the right-hand side of the site.
To become acclimated to the online grievance process, SCOPE members are strongly encouraged to view the following learning tools:
OH Grievance Training Webinar Video
OH Grievance “Quick Tips” (Word Document)
OH Grievance PowerPoint (w/ trainer’s notes)
If you have any questions about the online grievance process, please contact your site representative.
The March 2014 SCOPE & Sequence newsletter has been published. Please click below to read an important letter from our union president, Dominic Marsano, regarding upcoming elections, as well as a taste of the contract negotiation process coming in 2015. Additional topics include a SCOPE elections timeline, a round-up of news from one SCOPE Board member’s attendance at the Minority Leadership Training summit, a reminder about site rep communications and training, and more! Check out the link below:
Declaration of Candidacy forms and Biography forms are now available for the following positions:
SCOPE Vice-President (2-year term)
SCOPE Treasurer (2-year term)
SCOPE Executive Board (DRC-5 seats; DYS-2 seats; OSB-1 seat; OSD-1 seat, MIS-1 seat)
OEA Representative Assembly for 2014-2015
NEA Representative Assembly for 2014-2015
If you have trouble downloading these forms, they can also be obtained through your Site Representative, or by contacting Elections Chair Sally Kendall at el_dorado90@hotmail.com or 419-368-6635.
All candidacy and biography forms must be postmarked by March 31st, 2014. Ballots will be sent back out to you on April 7th and will be required to be returned by April 28th. Ballots will be counted at the Mansfield-Richland County Library on May 8th at 5:00 p.m.
Please send your completed forms to:
SCOPE Elections Committee
c/o Sally Kendall
P.O. Box 305
Hayesville, OH 44838
If you choose to itemize your deductions on your personal income tax returns, please be aware that the amount of your OEA association dues that is used for lobbying are not deductible on your federal tax return. Please see the linked document below for the deductible portion:
2013 Federal Income Tax Deductible/Non-Deductible Portion of Dues
The full amount of NEA dues is deductible.
If you plan to take a deduction for your Local Association or OEA District dues, you will need to get that figure from the appropriate organization’s President or Treasurer before filing your 2013 tax return. (It will not be necessary for Students or Retired members to contact a local or an OEA District since they do not belong to a particular local or an OEA District.)
Association (Union) dues qualify as a miscellaneous deduction, the total of which must equal at least two percent (2%) of Adjusted Gross Income to be deductible.
The November 2013 SCOPE & Sequence newsletter has been published. Please click below to read an important letter from our union president, Dominic Marsano, as well as other topics from the union secretary, Diane Prettyman, a question about SAFE accounts, and more!
SCOPE’s Executive Board Meeting will be held on August 9, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Central OEA Office (947 Goodale Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212).
If you would like to have an item added to the agenda, please contact Diane Prettyman, SCOPE Secretary, at 614-562-5119.
SCOPE Legislative Liaison and Executive Board member Todd Dygert (Education Specialist at Pickaway Correctional Institution) recently presented testimony to both the Ohio House and Senate Finance sub-committees regarding House Bill 59 (budget bill).
Dygert’s legislative testimony, as well his amendment request added to House Bill 59, can be viewed here. (Amendment is the last page of the linked document.)
Thank you, Todd, for your hard work on behalf of SCOPE!