Childcare providers concerned about new state funding cuts that impact on low-income families

SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington state childcare providers are bracing for state funding cuts to a program that helps 44,000 low-income families afford childcare every month.

House Bill 2689 cuts funding to the “Working Connections Child Care Program” also known as WCCC. The program currently allows providers to receive reimbursement for a full month of care as long as a qualifying child attends daycare for at least one day during that month. Under the proposed changes, providers would only be paid based on the actual number of days a child attends in person.

WCCC currently reimburses childcare providers up to nearly $70 per student per day. Very low-income families receive childcare services at no cost, while other qualifying families in the program pay a partial amount.

Lawmakers say the cuts could save the state $100 million that would help tackle Washington’s multi-billion-dollar budget deficit.

“Cost of childcare is certainly top of mind for many people across our state. And costs have been rising exponentially fast. This bill does provide a savings to the state. And therefore, I’m supportive of the policy,” said Republican Sen. Chris Gildon of the 25th Legislative District.

Childcare providers in Spokane, warn that the bill would affect how many available slots are open to families in this program. Right now, they currently have 85 families enrolled in WCCC. When the bill takes effect, they expect that number to go lower.

Kerra Bower, executive director of Raze Early Learning and Development Center in Spokane, said the cuts will force difficult conversations.

“For those of us who are 80 to 90% working connections, we have to make that really difficult decision to cut back on the working connection slots that we have and open up additional sites for our private pay families,” Bower said.

And low-income families may not be the only ones affected. For families that pay full tuition, they might be seeing a price increase to help offset the loss of state funds.

“It’s going to impact my staff. It’s going to impact my ability to employ individuals here in our city. And so, it will be devastating and for some centers could very likely close them,” Bower said.