North Dakota Lawmakers Eying Child Care Affordability

North Dakota lawmakers say childcare is a barrier to workforce growth, and they’ll have a look at methods to make it simpler for working households to afford.

Gov. Doug Burgum proposed a plan to broaden the present Baby Care Help Program and supply a toddler care tax credit score. The governor can be pitching a plan to assist little one care facilities entice high quality employees. The proposal may price the state between $70 million to $80 million throughout the 2023–2025 biennium, in accordance with info from Burgum’s workplace.

“The legislature will probably be very focused on wanting on the particulars,” stated Rep. Dale Patten, R-Watford Metropolis. “As all the time, price will probably be an element. The 2 primary points of a program are, one—getting the salaries of the employees at a degree the place the childcare facilities can entice staff. Second, the hourly charges for the dad and mom have to be at a degree that makes getting that second job possible. This ends in a funding hole that must be stuffed, hopefully with some sort of public personal partnership.”

Proper now, dad and mom are going through tough selections, Burgum stated in a information launch.

“In lots of instances, dad and mom are having to decide on between working and paying for childcare, or not working in any respect,” Burgum stated. “Offering higher availability to inexpensive, high quality childcare will make it simpler for working households—particularly younger households simply starting their careers—to have interaction in work and assist develop our economic system and assist native companies and their communities.”

The proposal outcomes from 14 months of conferences with little one care suppliers, enterprise leaders, and the Workforce Improvement Council, stated Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford.

“To make a significant affect for youngsters, working dad and mom, and companies, we have to undertake a complete technique that features authorities and employers partnering with communities to succeed in options,” Sanford stated.

By Gregory Burnett