Counties Across State Now Facing Shortfall of Funds After State Expands Eligibility But Provides No Additional Funds to Support Service
Families in Rensselaer County and New York State are being shortchanged because of inadequate funds for childcare subsidies mandated by the state, County Executive Steve McLaughlin and Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael McMahon said today.
“This is just the latest unfunded mandate passed down to us by New York State and unfortunately, many families are now caught up in this situation because of the state’s funding failure,” said McLaughlin.
“New York State is letting families and daycare providers down by not accurately and adequately funding this important program. This is just another example of the governor promising but failing to deliver,” added McLaughlin.
“The state has known about the gap between the funding they allocate and the eligibility they allow. If they care about these families and these children, then they will cover the gap,” continued McLaughlin.
The state provided federal and state funds to counties for the Child Care Assistance Subsidies program. Unfortunately, the state also significantly expanded eligibility and raising the threshold to provide coverage to families making well over $100,000.
The state also reduced the contribution made by parents to support the Child Care Assistance Subsidies program from 10 percent to 1 percent, while expanding eligibility.
The cost to Rensselaer County to cover the gap created by the state would be several million dollars, an expense not budgeted for in the current budget.
The New York Public Welfare Association, a bi-partisan organization of Social Services commissioners and officials from counties across the state, has been raising the issue with the state for years. The efforts by the NYPWA intensified in recent months after the significant expansion in eligibility.
“The state should immediately provide funds for the Child Care Assistance Program that cover the number of people eligible and seeking service,” said Commissioner McMahon.
“We have been trying to get the state’s attention and state’s help on this issue for years. The state’s failure to adequately fund the program leaves families without care and leaves daycare providers in the lurch,” said McMahon.
“For counties, it is too much to absorb an expense of several million dollars that is unbudgeted and unexpected. That would cause chaos for counties and jeopardize many other county services,” added McMahon.