A growing number of cities are passing tax increases to expand access to child care. Last year, New Orleans added more than 1,000 child care seats for low-income families after voters approved a historic property tax increase.

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Last year, New Orleans added more than 1,000 child care seats for low-income families after voters approved a historic property tax increasein 2022. The referendum raised the budget of the program seven-fold — from $3 million to $21 million a year for 20 years. Because Louisiana’s early childhood fund matches money raised locally for child care, the city gets an additional $21 million to help families find care.

New Orleans is part of a growing trend of communities passing ballot measures to expand access to child care. In Whatcom County, Washington, a property tax increase added $10 million for child care and children’s mental health to the county’s annual budget. A marijuana sales tax approved last year by voters in Anchorage, Alaska, will generate more than $5 million for early childhood programs.

The state of Texas has taken a somewhat different tack. In November, voters approved a state constitutional amendment that allows tax relief for qualifying child care providers. Under this provision, cities and counties can choose to exempt a child care center from paying all or some of its property taxes. Dallas was among the first city-and-county combo in Texas to provide the tax break.

  • stembolts@programming.dev
    0·
    7 months ago

    You seem open to new ideas where many people react to criticisms with anger. That openness alone puts you ahead of most people, so you’re already doing it.

    To add, I’m no expert, I just listen to experts and have interacted with a lot of early childhood development specialists. I don’t know a ton, but they imprinted on me the importance of development in those years.

    I apologize for being harsh, I get upset because children need so so much at an early age. I get angry when I see the same misconceptions handed down that has caused people to live a life of confusion due to inadequate preparation. The things that happen in those years can follow a person all the way to the grave.

    Then combine all that with the state’s neglect of children, well, upsetting to say the least. We have a garden of youth that is going to be our future generation, we have the tools (education specialists), we have the knowledge, we have the money, yet no investment is being made. These are some of the most valuable dollars a society could spend to create a better future, and instead we get news of annual cuts, people leaving the profession, kids being neglected.

    It’s enraging to see a society setting the next generation up for failure.