Governor Polis' Bridge to...Cross the Street??

Total cost estimates are $18 Million-$29 MILLION for this project. Pitched as a Celebration of Colorado's 150th Anniversary...the Early Childhood Education Association of CO says, "NO thank you!"

Here's why---

All we hear from the state legislature is "we can't afford to pay for critical services. We have a budget deficit." You and I undersatnd that in large part that deficit is due to the fact that the state took ARPA (COVID) funds and hired new staff and offered new services that they can no longer afford now that those funds are gone. The fact is, we liked lots of services that were provided with those funds but economic reality has set in and the state CANNOT afford to pay for them on their own!

CCCAP freezes are still in effect in 24 counties. The reality is that unless the 2024 CCDF rule requirements are RESCINDED, counties will remain on a freeze for low income child care for years to come!

• In one years time, Colorado has lost 36 programs overall and the 1,297 slots that were in those programs because of CCCAP freezes.
• Parent's are losing care options for their children.
• The CCDF regulations would necessitate a $48 million increase in funding support to implement the unfunded federal mandates. CO simply cannot afford to do that.
• The rate increase for CCCAP that is being paid out in 3 annual increments cost the state $22 million because the state was found by the feds to be paying providers under 50% of the market value for care. Now, CDEC is looking into:
  • Requesting an extension on the 3rd incremental increase to spread it out over future years AND
  • Checking to see if it's possible to not be required to pay the 3rd increase at all. "Since CO would be paying above the 75% rate level at that point." That's right, YOU as providers would then just carry that extra 25% as a revenue loss again.

NOW--

Governor Polis seeks to build a bridge instead of putting the money towards supporting families and programs who support low income families. A vanity project aimed at memorilizing his time as Governor instead of using the funds to make a difference for the 7,487 low income children that CANNOT GET CHILD CARE RIGHT NOW!!