MADISON – Governor Tony Evers 2023-25 biennium budget proposal works to make childcare more accessible and affordable. The Governor’s proposal includes $340 million to provide a permanent investment in the Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Stabilization Payment Program, which was created with federal dollars during the pandemic to support Wisconsin’s early care and education community. To date, the program has sent monthly payments to over 3,300 providers in Wisconsin to stay open, recruit and retain qualified staff, and provide care to over 113,000 children statewide.
Senator Agard, Representative Neubauer, and their Democratic colleagues will be contacting more than 4,000 child care providers in the upcoming weeks, informing them about this critical proposal and encouraging them to sign a petition supporting the Governor’s $340 million investment. Senator Agard (D-Madison) and Representative Neubauer (D-Racine) released the following statement:
“Ensuring working families have access to quality child care at an affordable cost is critical to addressing Wisconsin’s workforce needs. Unfortunately, we know that if the Child Care Counts program isn’t extended, 25% of Wisconsin providers said that they would close permanently, 60% of providers indicated they would have to raise tuition, and others said they would have to cut wages for already underpaid workers.
“Democrats are working for Wisconsin, and we know that access to affordable, quality childcare is critical for the well-being of working families. It is imperative that child care providers are supported and provided with the resources necessary to grow the future of Wisconsin. We know that when we invest in our kids, we invest in Wisconsin’s future.”
Concerned Wisconsinites can access the petition here: tinyurl.com/Support-ChildCareCounts
