Last Updated on Friday, 03 February 2012 20:12

Rebuke Follows “Emergency Action” on Child Care Based on Analysis Not Shared with Board Last December, when the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) overrode County Executive Astorino’s vetoes of two acts that restored $4.3 million of child care subsidies for low-income workers, it was acknowledged by child care advocates and community leaders that the move was right for Westchester.

Yesterday, though, the Astorino Administration stated that because of a Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) analysis of the County’s programs that run the child care subsidies “will run out of money” before the end of the year, it has decided to take “emergency steps” that include capping the number of child care slots available through the Title XX program at 206 (the number of slots currently funded) and increase the family contribution to the daycare funding from 20 % to 35% of the portion of income that exceeds the federal poverty level.

These programs are designed for mostly working mothers who are near the poverty level to stay in the workforce and contribute to the local economy—while paying their bills and providing for their families.

When the BOL committees met with the DSS Commissioner Kevin McGuire and his staff in December regarding the programs for day care subsidies in anticipation of finalizing appropriation amount in the 2012 County Budget, there was no mention of any dire financial circumstances for these programs. The BOL, realizing that more funds may be needed because of greatest participation in the programs, even increased the family share from 15% to 20%, which the DSS concurred was reasonable.

“It’s time for the Astorino Administration to get a handle on the numbers, do its job and give up on trying to undermine legislative actions that are right for Westchester,” said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “This incessant ‘sky is falling’ and reactionary approach to governance simply has to stop. Fact: the 2012 County Budget approved by the Board restored over 185 jobs and funding for dozens of essential programs that the County Executive wanted to cut—without increasing the County tax levy and touching the fund balance. Now, let’s move on and start working together for the sake of all of Westchester’s residents, instead of making premature and mean-spirited pronouncements that unsettle people and raise undue fears.”

Jenkins noted that the DSS has a $566 million annual budget and is projected to have in excess of $10 million dollars surplus for 2011.  A resolution will come from the BOL Community Services Committee stating that the BOL will not support a modification in the parental share rates, he added.

A copy of the DSS analysis regarding the necessitation of “emergency action” to the child care subsidy programs has not yet been shared with BOL, media or public.

“This abrupt decision will affect a number of residents in the legislative district that I have begun to serve, and so I am particularly upset and frustrated for them,” said Legislator Virginia Perez (D-Yonkers), a member of the BOL’s Community Services Committee. “We need to hear more information about why changes have to be made—period. Putting individuals—mostly mothers, in fact—who make $30,000 a year in a position where they have increase their share of child care costs by over $1000 for each child will hurt so many families—and the local economy as well.”