Res. No. 839
Title
Resolution calling upon New York City to prioritize quality child care and restore child care funds to ensure that increases in federal and State child care funds are used for their intended purpose of expanding the supply of child care and covering the increasing cost of such care.
Body
By Council Members Monserrate, Foster, Rivera, Quinn, Katz, Jackson, Comrie, Barron, Nelson, Dilan, Stewart, Yassky, Vann, Sanders, Reyna, Brewer, Clarke, Gerson, Boyland, Baez, Fidler, Gentile, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Perkins, Recchia, Seabrook, Sears, Serrano and Weprin
Whereas, Child care is a vital component of the lives of working families; and
Whereas, Research shows that quality child care provides children with a healthy start in development and contributes to school readiness and school success; and
Whereas, Early in 2001, with the assurance o f increased federal and State funding for child care, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) formulated an action plan that would increase the number of subsidized child care slots, thereby providing services for an additional 11,000 children in New York City; and
Whereas, The ACS action plan would also increase spending for the child care workforce to improve recruitment and retention of Head Start and child care staff by enhancing compensation and benefits packages; and
Whereas, Congress increased the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) in December 2000, with the stipulation that the increased funds would supplement - not supplant - current spending for child care; and
Whereas, This increase in CCDBG funds resulted in New York City receiving a substantial increase in its funding for child care services; and
Whereas, According to a report entitled Where Have All the New Child Care Dollars Gone? (the "Report"), issued by the Independent Budget Office, New York City used some of the funds received through the CCDBG to help cover other spending needs and fill the City's budget gap; and
Whereas, The Report also states that the City's allocation of its own funds for child care, both in dollar amount and as a share of overall child care spending, has declined, and, despite a significant increase in child care funding from the State and federal government, there has not been a proportionate increase in the amount of such services provided by the City; and
Whereas, The Administration has stated that due to the current fiscal climate, any increased spending relating to child care services and the child care workforce will be delayed; and
Whereas, The supplantation of City tax levy dollars with federal child care expansion funding sends the message that children and working and needy families of this City are not important; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon New York City to prioritize quality child care and restore child care funds to ensure that increases in federal and State child care funds are used for their intended purpose of expanding the supply of child care and covering the increasing cost of such care.
JP
LS#2199
4/24/03
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