With costs already high, WA initiative could cut child care budget

The cost of childcare is on the minds of Washington state voters going into November, especially because of an initiative that could upend funding for kids. Parents are struggling to afford care, with infant care in Washington costing $7,700 more annually than tuition at a four-year public college. Initiative 2109 would eliminate a 7% tax on capital gains for assets worth more than $262,000. If passed it could drain the state of nearly $6 billion over the next five years.

Christina Ko, Washington state manager of Save the Children Action Network, said that would slash funds for childcare and early learning.

“Families desperately need more childcare options, desperately need more early education options, and pulling that funding would be a huge loss to families in Washington state and really to our shared future,” she explained.

The tax was passed in 2021 and impacts 0.02% of Washingtonians. Supporters of the repeal initiative say the tax is unnecessary and a step toward a state income tax, which the state does not have.

In a recent poll from Save the Children Action Network, 81% of respondents from across the political spectrum said they support politicians increasing funding for childcare. Respondents also strongly supported efforts to make food more affordable for families through programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Christy Gleason, executive director of Save the Children Action Network, said in an era of intense polarization, these results are significant.

“The survey shows pretty clearly that Americans from across the political spectrum, from all walks of life, from all kinds of communities want lawmakers to prioritize policies that help families afford high quality childcare and nutritious food,” she explained.

Ko called on policymakers to make children a priority.

“The reason why we invest in public education at all and the reason why we should continue to invest in early childhood, even before kindergarten, is because children are the future, and we know that we all share the future, especially hereid.in Washington state. And if children are set to succeed later in life, we all benefit from that,” she said.