This synopsis is provided to give you some background on an important issue that will likely be on the November 5, 2024, ballot for Travis County voters.

The issue:
Childcare, After-School and Summer Programs are expensive. Parents and guardians struggle to find quality, affordable childcare that works with their schedules. Providers of childcare, after-school and summer programs struggle to stay in business because they need more money to pay qualified employees as well as the other costly expenses of running these programs.

The Agenda Item:
The Travis County Commissioners Court had a full agenda on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The agenda item that is the topic of this post is Action Item 12: “Consider and take appropriate action on a proposed tax rate election for Tax Year 2025 to increase access to early childhood care and afterschool/summer services for low-income families in Travis County. This item may be taken into Executive Session pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 551.071, Consultation by Attorney (Judge Brown & Commissioner Travillion).”

The court heard from numerous individuals and organizations in support of this item. Some of the organizations were the Andy Roddick Foundation, Austin Community College, United Way, YMCA’s VP of Youth Development, a pediatrician, a director of an electrical union, business leaders and more. The main points raised were that the lack of childcare, after school and summer school programs were detrimental not only to the children who could not access it, but it has a negative impact on our economy. The speakers provided both anecdotal and data. The cost/benefit analysis, strategies and other information that was presented can be viewed online. Don Zimmerman called in to voice his opposition to this issue being on the ballot.

The court voted to proceed with staff working to develop a proposal for the tax rate.

You can view, with the option to download, the agenda and packet here and watch the meeting here.

The Next Steps

• County staff will now work on developing a detailed proposal for the tax rate, including specifics on how the additional revenue will be used and the exact impact on taxpayers.

• The county will likely provide information sessions, public hearings, and detailed materials to educate voters about the proposal. This helps ensure that voters make an informed decision at the ballot box.

• Once the proposal is ready, it will be included on the November 5, 2024 ballot, giving residents the opportunity to vote for or against the new tax rate.

What Does This Mean?
Voters will be asked to approve a tax increase that would amount to about $123 annually per homeowner. This would generate almost 77 million dollars. Primarily, that money would go towards scholarships to low-income families in need of assistance, incentives to businesses to provide stipends for childcare and to building high-quality childcare centers. There is a focus on also providing childcare to those who don’t have the traditional 9-to-5 workday. Please note, these details may change since the proposal and corresponding language for the ballot has not been finalized.

update August 8, 2024:
According to the Travis County Commissioners Court, they will “Consider and take appropriate action on a resolution for a proposed 2024 tax rate election to increase access to affordable and high-quality childcare and afterschool/summer programming and related services for low-income families and to develop and administer related workforce and economic development programs. (This item may be taken into executive session pursuant Texas Gov’t Code §551.071, Consultation with Attorney.) Public comment will be held at this meeting.

update August 13, 2024:
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a measure for the November 5, 2024 ballot, to ask voters for a property tax increase to fund a multi-pronged approach to reduce the burden of childcare costs for the community’s most vulnerable.

Curious about the Commissioners Court? Read this post for a beginner’s guide.