In a late-night decision, Wisconsin's Republican-led Joint Finance Committee voted to discontinue the Child Care Counts program, a pandemic-era initiative that provided financial aid to child care facilities. This move, met with strong opposition from Democrats and child care providers, eliminates funding that supported over 4,900 providers with almost $600 million between March 2020 and March 2023.
The program, designed to assist struggling providers during the pandemic, covered essential operational costs like rent, utilities, and staff development. With funds projected to be depleted by February 2024, Democratic Governor Tony Evers proposed extending the program with over $300 million in state funding for the next two years, a proposal rejected by Republicans.
Critics of the decision, including Democratic Senator Kelda Roys, argue that ending the program will have detrimental effects on families and the state's economy, potentially forcing child care centers to close. Providers like Brooke Skidmore, owner of The Growing Tree child care center, emphasized the program's crucial role in allowing her to raise employee wages and maintain operations amidst staffing shortages. Parents also voiced concerns, highlighting the importance of accessible child care for their ability to work.
Senator LaTonya Johnson advocated for continued funding for child care support, capturing the sentiment of those who believe accessible child care is essential for families and the workforce. While Republicans on the committee did not publicly justify their decision during the debate, Representative Jessie Rodriguez indicated that they are developing alternative legislation to support the opening of new child care centers.
Governor Evers' office strongly condemned the decision, criticizing both the action itself and the timing of the vote, which occurred late at night. Evers' spokesperson called the move a disservice to working families and questioned the Republicans' commitment to affordable and accessible child care.
