4/3/25 ECEA Child Care Update
Colorado's Budget "Shortfall" = Expenditure Problem
You run a business. You know that you only have the revenue to run your business based on the revenue that you have. When your revenue decreases, you change what you offer. The state makes it sound like their hands are tied because of TABOR. The tax payer bill of rights ensures that state and local governments cannot raise their taxes on you without you approving it for specific expenditures. They act like their hands have been tied because of TABOR. They claim that Colorado has no way to raise additional money to meet the needs of Colorado residents. This is absolutely false! Tax collections in Colorado have increased by $7.5 BILLION since 2020.
Have you felt an increase in:
* DMV costs
* CO Income taxes
* Fuel and energy costs
* Liquor, Cigarettes and other Tobacco product costs
and on and on and on. It's not because of inflation either! It's because the fees and surcharges that the state is allowed to assess (that are NOT restricted by TABOR) have gone through the roof. The Department of Revenue tracks every EXTRA dollar that you have had to spend as a work around to TABOR. We know that your time is limited. If there was ever a document to read, it is THIS ONE:
https://cdor.colorado.gov/sites/revenue/files/documents/2024_Annual_Report_DR4000.pdf
It will help you to see what will happen if TABOR is repealed by voters (and believe me they are trying to get that done again). Your tax dollars will increase exponentially. Revenue, under TABOR has increased annually! They just want to keep MORE of your money so that they can "DO MORE FOR YOU". Referendum already took $40 BILLION dollars and counting. Voters didn't understand that they were giving that amount. What does the state say? We want your refunds too!
"BUT THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE MONEY." For those of you that were here....remember a time 10-15 years ago before all of the regulations, requirements and supports came? Remember how you were able to find people who loved working with children and you were able to hire them? Remember how you had to raise your rates from time to time to keep up with inflation? NOW, think about today. Think about how there are now 6,284 more 4 year old's in the school district UPK settings than there were under CPP (Colorado Preschool Program). That increase came from YOUR community based programs. The state works to establish a "balanced" mixed delivery system but the system was not balanced prior to UPK. Those kids were in your programs and now many of you are struggling to meet ends meet because the 4 year old's are gone!
Think about how you lost SIX MONTHS of infants in your program because FAMLI leave pulled infants back into their homes with parents.
PAUSE HERE
We understand the value of infants being home with their children. That is not what we are fighting against here. We are merely pointing out that policy after policy, the child care industry has had to navigate a mine field of unintended consequences that have forced you to raise your rates. All the while, "pay your staff more", "provide more benefits" are all echoing out to you to be a "better" employer. Have you been watching? Program after program, the government opts out of the requirement for themselves and their workforce!
People are struggling to pay for child care because
Colorado's revenue has expanded exponentially over the past 5 years. Like Seymour experienced with Audrey II in the Little Shop of Horrors, all CO Govt continues to do is scream "FEED ME!" If you vote to abolish TABOR you are agreeing to feed Audrey II more, more and more with back breaking frequency.
(For a full easy to understand explainer watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3bEZnq7new)
**Next week we will get back to our K-12 discussion.
UPDATED @ 12:30 - https://www.coloradoecea.org/news/4325-legislators-seek-to-remove-tabor-through-a-lawsuit
New Proposed UPK Rules Would Extend deadlines
RAC will hear a proposed rule set that would extend until July 1, 2026:
* Using an approved assessment
* Screening/Referrals/Translation service requirements
* Family engagement requirements
*UPK Training requirements
Find the draft rules here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1o7XmvdXYCJcDZiRLbWksi9_xGYpWz77R
One minute CCCAP Freeze Impact Survey
If you haven't taken it already and you are a center that serves CCCAP children PLEASE do it now!
ECEA members: Your staff and families will be able to attend for FREE! Details will be sent out as it gets closer! Encourage families to save the date.
KNOW OF ANY VENDORS OR SPONSORS? Please send them to our information pages:
https://www.coloradoecea.org/events/co-early-childhood-tradeshow-and-family-fun-fair
