MADISON, WIS. – Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) is grateful for Gov. Tony Evers’ ongoing efforts to ensure Wisconsin’s children and families are prioritized in the 2025-27 state budget.
WECA is encouraged to know bipartisan budget negotiations between the Governor and Republican leadership in both houses of the Legislature were happening yet is disappointed negotiations have ended at an impasse.
“We want to see – and desperately need – bipartisanship that aligns state revenue with the needs of children, families and the child care workforce,” WECA Executive Director Ruth Schmidt said. “We know many Wisconsin taxpayers are hardworking families who already are challenged to find child care – let alone afford it.”
A recent study from the University of Wisconsin indicates 1 in 4 child care programs are likely to close and significant rate increases are expected when federal relief funding for child care ends later this month. The governor made the continuation of the Child Care Counts Program one of the top priorities of his proposed budget and ongoing budget negotiations.
WECA calls on Republican legislators and the Joint Finance Committee to make investing in Wisconsin’s children and working families a top priority. Public opinion on child care investment is clear: At least 80 percent of voters across the United States want a plan for making child care accessible and affordable.
“The Legislature must step up and invest in child care,” Schmidt said. “The consequences of inaction are much too dire for children, families, providers, and communities.”
