Child care centers in San Antonio are increasing costs due to financial stressors that has been temporarily relieved by federal funding.
Keoni Keno, a teacher at Books and Bibs Child Care and Learning Academy, plays with children at the child care facility in summer 2022.Representatives from several child care centers in San Antonio say they may be forced to increase child care costs as they face financial burdens that were temporarily relieved by federal funding — but they worry that upping rates will make it harder for local families to access much-needed services.
“In some parts of San Antonio, that’s very possible, but where I am, the demographic that I serve have their own financial struggles,” Tapiador said at a joint press conference hosted by the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County and, both nonprofits that compile data from child care facilities and conduct research studies on centers in San Antonio.
If Proposition 2 passes in the Nov. 7 constitutional amendment election, it would allow San Antonio and Bexar County to exempt at least 50% of child care providers’ property tax exemptions for all facilities used to run the center. For a business with multiple locations, that would have a big impact on annual property tax bills.
Tax exemptions for the Learning Tree Center would mean that money would be allocated to cover costs so that the increase in tuition isn’t as incremental. For Books & Bibs Child Care and Learning Academy, owner Stephanie Gray said Proposition 2 could mean a $10,000 tax exemption. Since she leases the property on the East Side, she currently only qualifies for tax exemptions on one property.
“We have to increase the tuition because the funding stopped. All the funding we got over the last year and I gave my staff these bonuses, that stopped,” Gray said. “The payroll is what keeps you with staff … everything has gone up. We have to keep competitive with salaries.”At the conference on Wednesday, child care providers vented about the number of challenges they still face in the industry.
The Learning Tree Center was the only center to participate in the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County’s wage study which last year that boosted the wages of 19 educators from $9 to $11 an hour up to $15 to $18 an hour. The study ended in January 2023.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scaled-back launch plan, company silence raise concerns over San Antonio startup DeLoreanThe company said it's reintroducing an iconic '80s car as an electric vehicle, but some people who paid deposits now question whether it can deliver.
Read more »
Attorney who fought for child sexual abuse victims pleads guilty to possessing child pornAn attorney in Florida who fought for child sexual abuse victims pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to possession of child pornography.
Read more »
San Antonio's Idle Beer Hall & Brewery plans Oct. 12 grand openingThe brewery is the anchor tenant inside River North's anticipated Make Ready food hall.
Read more »
San Antonio students swap backpacks for buckets and air fryers in creative school initiativeSAN ANTONIO - Students at Wood Middle School were able to leave the backpacks at home for a day, bringing anything but a backpack!On Oct. 2, students were able
Read more »
Shipment of long-overdue Tesla Cybertrucks spotted on I-10 in San AntonioTesla CEO Elon Musk originally promised the trucks would roll off the assembly line in 2021. Are they finally here?
Read more »