Child care funding increased for providers and families this year in Minnesota.
But public testimony to the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee this week shows affordability continues to be a serious issue for middle class families.
Shawntel Gruba is chief executive officer at the Iron Range Tykes Learning Center in Mountain Iron. Gruba told the committee she needs to raise rates at the center to make ends meet and expects to lose families in the process. These are families with solid jobs in mining and health care.
"At what point do they not make enough money to pay for child care?" Gruba said. "At what point do they decide that in order to make ends meet, they need to find a child care option that has much lower quality? This is a horrible decision to be forced to make."
Brittany Kjenaas of Mountain Iron, a parent of one, reinforced the challenges families face.
"She is our only child, and unless something changes in the cost of child care she will remain our only child," Kjenaas told legislators. "We pay more for child care than we do our mortgage and there's no way we could double that and still afford to live."
The Legislature already invested $300 million, including in early learning scholarships for 25,000 low-income and vulnerable children. But advocates say the income threshold is too low and leaves the majority of Minnesotans struggling.
DFL State Sen. Grant Hauschild of Hermantown is one of the legislators working on a proposal to ensure no family would pay more than 7% of their income on child care and early learning. Hauschild said child care concerns are a top issue for his rural constituents, not only for cost reasons but also availability.
Lack of affordable housing and child care combined make it harder for families in Greater Minnesota, he said, and limits economic development opportunities.
"If we want Minnesota to be the best place to raise a family, and support businesses, workforce and our economy, we must address the child care affordability crisis," Hauschild said.
The proposal is expected to be considered in the 2024 session.
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KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Oct. 1, 2024. -
Contributed/Alexander Grey via PexelsThe grant money aims to create thousands of new child care slots and support middle-class families in Minnesota. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEMultiple area homes in Red Lake's BOT, or Back of Town, neighborhood were impacted by the house explosion on Oct. 4, 2024. -
Andrew Dziengel/KAXEMultimedia artist Rory Wakemup’s exhibit “Smart Wars: Gaa-miinigoowiziyang" is featured at the Miikanan Gallery at the Watermark Art Center. The public will have a chance to meet the artist Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. -
Megan Buffington/KAXESponsored by the nonprofit Safe Routes to School, the annual, national day encourages students to walk or bike to school. -
Lorie ShaullMinnesota's 2023 legislative session saw a record $98.4 million spent on lobbying, as groups sought to influence the DFL trifecta's progressive policy agenda. -
Plus: 2023 legislative session sees ballooning lobbying costs; Walz announces $6M in child care grants; Walk to School Day is next week; and Hwy 32 will soon be under construction.
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Candidate forums for the Legislature, city council, mayor, school board and other local offices are taking place in communities around Northern Minnesota. -
Kari Hedlund/KAXEThis week, we want to know what album you would be your "must have" if stranded on a desert island.
