The crisis of childcare affordability and availability has become so acute that cities and states across the country have been taking action to address it. Universal childcare initiatives — programs that provide access to free or low-cost childcare for families regardless of income — have been announced in New Mexico, New York, and San Francisco within the last year.
In Alameda County, the Measure C sales tax, approved by voters in 2020, is a step in that direction, supporters said. Over the past year, millions of dollars in tax revenue have been distributed to childcare providers to help pay staff, expand subsidized childcare slots, upgrade facilities, and strengthen the childcare infrastructure in Alameda County.
“It would cost us about a billion dollars, really, to fully fund early care and education, and we have roughly $115 million to $150 million annually to program,” said Kristin Spanos, the CEO of First 5 Alameda County, the agency administering the funds. “So while it’s not close to a billion dollars, it’s an impactful amount.”…