County commissioners approve tax rate election to raise $75M for child care - Austin Monitor

The unanimous decision by the Travis County Commissioners Court to place a tax rate increase on the November ballot aims to generate $75 million yearly for child care services, addressing severe shortages in access and quality.

With the aim to address child care 'deserts' in the region, the funding could create nearly 1,900 new slots for low-income infants and toddlers, alongside 3,900 new after-school and summer programming opportunities for school-aged youth.

In light of dwindling federal relief funding, the county's research highlighted a critical need, revealing just 3,000 available state-funded slots and a staggering waitlist of 4,500 individuals seeking care.

The proposed funding would not only enhance service quantity but also focus on improving the quality of child care providers, while potentially benefiting local families through strategic partnerships and wider accessibility.

Read at Austin Monitor