ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis coalition is working to place a child care funding measure before voters in November 2026.
Best Start for Kids STL is collecting signatures for a proposed charter amendment that would create a dedicated $22 million annual fund for early childhood education through a half-cent sales tax increase in the City of St. Louis.
Supporters said the measure would reduce child care costs for families and provide grants to help providers raise wages and stabilize operations. Voters would ultimately decide whether to approve the tax increase.
Industry under strain
Lisa Scheer of Baden Christian Child Care Center said providers across the region are facing significant challenges…