Travis County Families Fight for Affordable Child Care

Travis County faces a child care crisis, with costs exceeding $13,000 per child, annually. This is higher than in-state tuition at the University of Texas, and places a huge burden on working families. An estimated 2,757 children under 35 months lack access to care, and there's a 24-month waitlist for stipends.

"Access to affordable, high-quality child care and after-school care often proves to be one of the biggest obstacles to making that dream [of financial stability] a reality."

In May, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to approve the Travis County Creating Access for Resilient Families (CARES) Resolution, aiming to expand access to care for over 8,000 children.

On August 13, the Commissioners will hear public testimony and vote on a 2.5 cent tax rate increase to fund this initiative. The proposal includes:

• Increased scholarships for early childhood and after-school programming.
• Improved quality and capacity in centers.
• A business-government alliance to encourage private employers to provide childcare stipends.

This program will support families and caregivers, and benefit the wider community and businesses struggling to find employees. It's a chance for Travis County to take a stand and invest in its future.