Green County Child Care Network members and parents from Brodhead, Monroe, New Glarus, and Monticello met with Sen. Marklein on Wednesday evening for an hour to discuss the current state of child care in our county and the state. 

Group and family child care owners reviewed their revenue and expenses with him to explain the basic operational expenses associated with quality child care.  Then the amount that was left allowed for wages and no benefits. Furthermore, they explained that they are at the top of what they can charge for tuition and still have enough wealthy families to enroll and remain open. Also, the Wi Shares subsidy is not in compliance with federal requirements to continue receiving the money since its payments are too low and only 9% of eligible families use it because of this. 

One member stated she is closing her family child care next year because her husband is retiring and they need health care, the other family child cares all said the only reason they can remain open is their spouses have health insurance and retirement. The programs talked about the current revenue including the federally funded and state allocated that offsets tuition that increased average wages from $10.66 to the current $13.86 an hour. If the Joint Finance Committee doesn’t include the Governor’s budget request of $480 million, the results will be a collapse of what is left of the child care system. Programs will either close or increase tuition 20% or more a week per child. 

This will result in out-pricing the market. Even if a fraction of the families withdraw their children, they will then close, leaving even those who are wealthy enough without care and their employers without workers. A handout breaking down this impossible mathematical equation had a breakdown of average county two earner household income minus basic expenses like housing, food, transportation, and utilities. 

A family with both a one and four year old at a group center is “underwater” at $404 a month, and at a family child care they have $89 left. This shows how untenable it is and why more and more families are choosing to forego children altogether, have one child, or spread them out so that they are not in full-time care at the same time. 

Two parents also attended, one who has been looking for employment and finally decided she would go to work at the YMCA when their expansion opens so that she can bring in a small income, but more importantly, her child can interact with other children. She was surprised the wage offered was above the average for the state as she has no experience. 

“Childcare is a crisis in our state,” said parent Darci Wilson. “We are unable to find childcare because of the shrinking number of providers. If we were able to get in the cost is astronomical. I would have been working to send my children to daycare. My weekly tuition costs would have been over $600 dollars a week.”  

Other topics covered were the importance of at least 60% special ed reimbursement and the additional 10.5 million for children 3-7 so that those with additional needs are identified, receive therapy, and are supported in child care programs with paraprofessionals in addition to while at school once they enter. This will likely prevent secondary needs from developing. For children needing only minimal support likely reduces the years therapy is needed, reducing costs and increasing outcomes for the child.

A solution presented by GCCCN members included state funding for the first time and  a minimal payroll tax that increases revenue for child care programs to increase wages and stabilize or reduce tuition that allows all employers to participate instead of just those that are wealthy for profit businesses.  

“We were pleased to present to Sen. Marklein our views on the shutting down of the essential childcare industry,” said Lori Sutherland, family child care professional. Senator Marklein was very attentive to our concerns. We challenged him to find a better way to manage the income and expenses of childcare as well. His response was, ‘you are the experts of your business and profession.’ Sen. Marklein, thank you for taking the time to listen to us.” 

— The GCCCN is looking forward to working together to solve this crisis so our children, the adults who care for and educate them, parents, and communities throughout Wisconsin can thrive.