SARASOTA, Fla. — Changes are coming for hundreds of families who rely on the Early Learning Coalition for pre-K childcare funding assistance.
Sarasota County commissioners recently voted 4 to 1 to defund the 20-year program, leaving families with just a few months to find alternative childcare and figure out how to pay for it. The lone dissenting vote came from Commissioner Mark Smith.
The commissioners have denied grant applications from several groups to access funding set aside for human and behavioral health services in the county.
If they don't reverse their decision, the Early Learning Coalition will have to find more than $1 million to make up for it or be forced to drop from the program.
"I think it's really bizarre with today's day and how everyone's struggling. I don't know how they can cut that much funding," Derrick Clark, a Sarasota dad, said.
"Daycare or any type of learning development is extremely expensive for families, and it's a hard time right now for especially people with young kids and trying to work and pay for daycare and childcare," Cathy Perry, a Sarasota mom, added.
The commissioners cut $510,000 in county funds to the program which will also affect ELC's access to that same amount in matched state funds.
Around 300 families who get childcare subsidies through the ELC's School Readiness Program are affected by the cut.
"Struggling parents out there will struggle more. With the housing markets so high, people can barely get groceries let alone if they need childcare so they can work in order to make the money," Clark explained.
"Those of us that are older now and are on these boards and committees, I think sometimes they forget how hard it is to bring kids up nowadays," Perry said.
ELC leaders said they were surprised by the move despite a priority ranking of 15th out of 51 organizations that should be funded as recommended by the commission's advisory council.
They said it would jeopardize the safety of many young children and the financial security of their families.
"These are families that work for the county. Families that work for school districts, first responders, hospitals as well as multiple businesses across our county. And these are hard-working families that need childcare," Janet Kahn, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition, said.
This is the latest on the list of recent cuts including to non-profits franchised under the United Way, Harvest House which is a Christian group helping the homeless population, and the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.
"There wasn't even consistency in the decision, and that's what also is disturbing. There is so much talk at the state level, on the federal level about childcare and the importance of early education and how critical it is. It's a shame that we're going backward in our community on this issue," Kahn added.
Letters and messages notifying impacted families will start going out as soon as this week
"I would like to see more funding I would like to see more support, help these young families with young, young children and you know, get the support they need just across-the-board," Perry said.
10 Tampa Bay reached out to the members of the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners multiple times to get more insight as to why they made this decision but they have not responded to any of our messages.