In recent years, it has become evident that states require additional funding to support children. The aid related to the pandemic has long disappeared, but its effects still linger, as seen in persistent shortages of child care and ongoing concerns regarding the behavioral and mental health of children. States are now making increasing efforts to generate new sources of funding to support young children, although in at least one state, a ballot measure was introduced to roll back such initiatives.
To address these issues and secure the necessary funding, at least 10 measures were presented on ballots across the country on Tuesday, proposing tax increases or new revenue streams to finance child care and other services focused on children. Voters overwhelmingly chose to either maintain or increase spending on these initiatives, with a few exceptions.
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Let’s take a look at how early childhood initiatives fared in this election: (This article will be updated once the final vote tallies are confirmed.)
Child care:
❌ Washington state: Initiative 2109 sought to repeal a capital gains tax that was passed in 2021 and has since provided subsidies for child care and funding for specific child care programs. The failure of this initiative means that the tax and funding for child care will remain in place. FAILED
✅ Travis County, Texas: Proposition A proposed a property tax increase to generate over $75 million to create affordable child care spaces and offset the loss of federal pandemic funds for local child care programs. PASSED
❌ St. Paul, Minnesota: The 2024 Early Care and Learning Proposal is a property tax levy aimed at providing public funding for child care. The city would raise $2 million in the first year and increase this amount by $2 million each year until the 10th year, with the funds going into a special early care and education fund to assist families with child care costs. (The city’s mayor, Melvin Carter, stated that he was unlikely to implement the tax if it passed). FAILED
Sonoma County, California: Measure I asked voters to approve a quarter-cent countywide sales tax to establish a local revenue stream to support child care and children’s health programs, with a particular focus on children experiencing homelessness. The initiative garnered over 20,000 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the November ballot. LIKELY TO PASS
Related: What convinces voters to raise taxes: child care
Early childhood Health, education, and well-being:
✅ Platte County, Missouri: The Platte County Children’s Services Fund measure proposes a quarter-cent sales tax increase to create a revenue stream for mental health programs, including early childhood screening. PASSED
Pomona County, California: Measure Y aims to reallocate at least 10 percent of funds from an existing city general fund to establish a Department of Children and Youth. The funds will also be used to fund youth programs, child care, and support for parents. LIKELY TO PASS
Santa Cruz, California: Measure Z suggested a $0.02 per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to raise funds for youth mental health and children’s programs. LIKELY TO PASS
✅ Colorado: Proposition KK aims to create a $39 million fund by imposing a 6.5 percent excise tax on guns and ammunition. While most of the funds are allocated to crime victim and veterans mental health services, $3 million will be allocated to behavioral health services for children. PASSED
❌ Missouri: Amendment 5 would have established a new gambling boat license, with an estimated $14 million in revenue funding public school early childhood literacy programs. FAILED
✅ Nevada: Question 5 on this year’s ballot gave voters the opportunity to exempt diapers from sales tax, starting on January 1, 2025. PASSED
Related: Her child care center was already on the brink — then coronavirus struck
Contact staff writer Jackie Mader at (212) 678-3562 or [email protected].
This article on ballot measures for child services was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, with support from the Spencer Fellowship at Columbia Journalism School. Sign up for the Early Childhood newsletter.
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