Tax Imposed on Club Fundraisers Canceled
NICHOLAS ZHOU (News Editor)
On Tuesday, Sept. 5, it was announced that a newly proposed 10% charge on club fundraisers would be put on indefinite hold for the 2023-2024 school year.
On Monday, Aug. 28, the district announced a change to club policy in a Zoom meeting for club advisers. All clubs would be expected to hold at least one fundraiser and 10% of the club’s fundraising would go into each high school’s personal ASB General Fund with a $100 yearly cap per club. This announcement sparked controversy among the district’s student body, as many clubs on campus do not fundraise throughout the school year.
A procedures-and-protocols slideshow presented to club advisers at AHS detailed why this tax was specifically being imposed on AHS and its clubs. The district has one large fund to distribute amongst its three high school ASBs, with each high school having its own ASB General Fund. The ASB General Fund is intended to pay for school events, sports referees and other engaging activities.
The funds distributed to Alhambra’s ASB last year originally totaled $35,068.58. From fundraisers such as football game tickets, basketball game tickets, ASB membership and donations, ASB collected a revenue of $23,761.00. ASB’s expenditures in the previous year totaled $46,368.15, resulting in a deficit of $17,868.15. As a result of the $17,868.15 deficit, the district implemented this club tax on AHS to recuperate the missing funds.
According to the staffs of The Aztec newspaper at Mark Keppel High and The Matador newspaper at San Gabriel High, it was revealed that the same taxing conditions had been imposed on clubs at those schools as well.
This new policy was met with backlash from students at all three high schools and decisive action was quickly taken by the students.
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, a petition protesting the newly imposed policy, created by Student Advisory Council Sophomore Representative Keiko Rakin, was sent to club presidents and to the student body. Some components of the petition included if students agreed with the policy, why the policy should be abolished and the school the signers were from. The petition amassed approximately 200 signatures before the policy was changed.
“[The tax] is not fair to clubs as we already make very little profit and are the center of AHS’ extracurricular activities,” Rakin said.
After the backlash; On Wednesday, Aug. 29, it was announced that the new fundraising requirements would be canceled for AHS.
“MKHS intends to keep the 10% tax on its clubs while the tax at SGHS has also been canceled and its clubs are paying $100 instead,” Student School Board Member Justin Wang said.
In response to the fundraising requirements being canceled, the issue was brought to the district Student Advisory Council committee on Thursday, Sept. 7. In this meeting, the district discussed the next steps to recuperate and raise funds for each school’s ASB General Fund.
“60% of AHS’ ASB funds is going directly into the General ASB Fund for AHS,” Wang said.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Josephine Quach hopes that the new changes will be used to benefit all students.
“ASB funds are to benefit groups/all students rather than individuals,” Quach said. “ASB organizations and the management of ASB funds present students with opportunities not only to raise and spend money, but also to learn the principles of operating a small business and acquire leadership skills.”
Although the tax on club fundraisers at AHS has been canceled for now, the policy is still being discussed and potential changes can still be made for each high school.