Rolison highlights $4.5 billion to support working families

“One of the issues I hear about most from families throughout Dutchess, Orange and Putnam counties is the challenge of finding and affording quality child care,” said Senator Rob Rolison. “Parents should not have to choose between providing for their families and finding a safe, reliable place for their children to learn and grow. This investment will help more families access the care they need while supporting the providers who make it possible.”

The budget provides significant funding to expand child care assistance programs, enabling more middle-income families to qualify for affordable care. For many Hudson Valley families, child care expenses rival mortgage payments, creating barriers for parents seeking to remain in or return to the workforce. Officials estimate the additional funding will help thousands more families statewide access subsidies and reduce out-of-pocket costs.

The budget also includes funding for the creation and renovation of child care centers to address child care deserts. In Dutchess County and across the Hudson Valley, providers report long waiting lists and staffing shortages. The new capital funding aims to help communities expand capacity and create more child care slots where they are needed most.

Another provision in the budget continues the state’s commitment to expanding early childhood education. The investment follows the recent announcement that Dutchess County, in partnership with Day One Early Learning Community in Poughkeepsie, was selected to participate in New York’s new $20 million universal child care pilot program for families. Together with the state’s efforts to expand universal pre-kindergarten, these initiatives will help ensure more children enter school ready to learn while supporting parents in remaining in the workforce, according to Rolison.

The spending plan also includes resources to strengthen the early childhood workforce through educator recruitment and training initiatives. Child care providers throughout the Hudson Valley have consistently cited staffing shortages as one of the industry’s greatest challenges. Investing in the workforce will help providers retain qualified educators and expand services to meet growing demand.

The delayed state budget also expands the Child Tax Credit, providing direct financial relief to families. Rolison says the combination of child care investments, expanded assistance and universal school meals represents one of the state’s most significant family affordability initiatives in recent years.