New Mexico to become first state to offer free childcare
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham says her state will be the first to offer free child care to everyone. Taylor Velazquez of member station KUNM reports on how it's supposed to work.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Play with the bean (ph).
TAYLOR VELAZQUEZ, BYLINE: Lizbet Martinez runs a day care out of her home in Albuquerque.
LIZBET MARTINEZ: Let's take turns on it, Dominic. When she's done, then you can play with it.
VELAZQUEZ: She has 12 kids in her care, and she's aware of the governor's plans but not sure about the details. But she's pretty sure this will be a good thing for families in New Mexico. It doesn't take much to make child care unaffordable.
MARTINEZ: Being in the business for so long, I do see a lot of struggling parents, and sometimes $1 or $2 will kick them off the program.
VELAZQUEZ: The state already subsidizes child care costs for people who make less than four times the federal poverty level. But this new plan would remove income restrictions. Jesse Gremore, a parent in Santa Fe who works in public health, had to find a new job after budget cuts, but says this announcement convinced her family to stay in New Mexico.
JESSE GREMORE: So we decided that we were not going to move to California to be closer to family to help with child care. So we have a lot of faith that this is going to go through.
VELAZQUEZ: New Mexico expects to spend just under $600 million in the first full year of the program. The state has spent years building early childhood funding. In 2020, it created a $10 billion trust fund, using revenue from its booming oil and gas industry. Then, in 2022, voters approved drawing more from the Land Grant Permanent Fund. The governor estimates this program will save families up to $12,000 a year, but Republicans here say a universal system isn't the right move. State party Chair Amy Barela says it's unsustainable, as it leads to greater government dependency, and thinks overwhelming demand will limit family choice.
AMY BARELA: Build the services for those that need the services. It is not a universal requirement.
VELAZQUEZ: Early Childhood Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky says the planned expansion adds 2,000 child care slots.
MARTINEZ: We still have the requirement that families have a reason to need child care.
VELAZQUEZ: The state has not yet said what reasons it will consider. Finding enough child care workers is a big challenge. Officials estimate they'll need 5,000 more to handle the demand. The state mandates they will be paid at least $18 an hour. Barbara Tedrow owns several early childhood centers in Farmington.
BARBARA TEDROW: I have 125 employees. And to say I am going to increase $6 an hour for 125 employees and pay those payroll taxes - that is a huge burden.
VELAZQUEZ: Providers can bill the state for higher wages, but only after employees have already been paid. Families can start filing applications now. The state's goal is for free child care for all to start on November 1. For NPR News, I'm Taylor Velazquez in Albuquerque.
(SOUNDBITE OF VAMPIRE WEEKEND SONG, "THE KIDS DON'T STAND A CHANCE")
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