WHAT does a parent do when the only way to care for their child while they are at work is closed? How does one keep their child safe without large expense? These are the questions that many families are forced to ask themselves as four daycares across the county in Millcreek, Fairpark, Kearns, and Magna begin closure, with no plans of reopening.
IT all began when the Salt Lake County Council was working on budgets for the upcoming year. The decision to close the daycares was proposed as a solution to “save money.” Aimee Winder Newton expressed the concerns of the group stating, “To take their tax money to subsidize 271 kids doesn’t seem equitable.” But many community members don’t agree. Kearns resident Allison Crosby, who currently has a ten-year old child enrolled in the Kearns Recreational Center’s daycare stated, “I think that putting some money toward childcare to allow parents to work is an appropriate use of taxes.”
THE meeting held by the council to speak about their budget cuts involved several outraged families and parents. Heartfelt speeches from students and parents proclaimed the necessity of these programs for the community. Other words were not so civilized. After the statement from Winder Newton, one man in attendance stood up and voiced his frustration, calling out what he believed to be inaccurate statements from the council with strong language. He was then escorted out of the building by the sheriff’s deputies and county staffers…