Wisconsin child care subsidy program; Evers finds $170M in federal money
MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Tony Evers will spend $170 million in federal funds to keep the state's Child Care Counts program running. That money was supposed to expire in January – it is now extended through the end of the current budget in June 2025.
Inside the classroom at Catherine's Early Childhood Development Center, building blocks are more than toys.
"We help with their development and learning, their language skills," said Olivia El-Amin, co-owner.
Olivia El-Amin
But El-Amin said doing that pivotal work has become increasingly challenging in an industry on the verge of collapse.
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Since March 2020, providers like Catherine's have received a subsidy through the Child Care Counts program. It is mean for utility bills, teaching materials and staff – to retain quality talent.
Last month, the Wisconsin legislature voted to end funding for the program in January. El-Amin said her team has already had tough discussions about the future – including a brief thought of closing.
"We were like what are we gonna do once that ends? How are we gonna make this work?" El-Amin said.
On Monday, Gov. Evers said he would use $170 million in federal funds to keep the Child Care Counts program running.
"While I'm hopeful this investment will stave off an urgent collapse to our state's child care industry, this is a stopgap measure and will still not make our child care providers whole," Evers said.
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While El-Amin cheered the news, Republicans criticized it. In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Devin Lemahieu said the following:
"Governor Evers vetoed the largest tax cut in state history and then spent months going around the state telling child care providers that they were going to have to close their doors when he could have used ARPA money to preserve Child Care Counts all along.
"Governing isn’t a game, and Governor Evers continues to irresponsibly play games with Wisconsin families’ budgets for political purposes.
"The legislature’s special session plan will provide an average of nearly $6,000 in tax relief for a Wisconsin family with two children in childcare. That is meaningful tax relief that doesn’t grow the size of government."
The legislature has no authority over the money because the governor is using federal funds. Republicans proposed a constitutional amendment to grant the legislature that authority. But both houses have yet to pass it before voters would ultimately decide.