Bookmark & share:

E-mail this page E-mail a letter to the editor Reader Comments (below)

By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer 10/18/2007

The Commission to Develop a Strategic Priorities Plan for Maine's Young Children spent several hours discussing tax credits for parents who use day care, subsidies to help them pay for better quality services, and more money for at-risk families.

And while the commission agreed in concept to programs that total more than $20 million, it did not agree on an implementation timeline or advise how to move the proposal forward.

Initially, the commission struggled to strike a balance between what it feels are important programs and the current budget problems in the state.

But Rep. Kim Silsby, D-Augusta, said their proposal to create new positions and put more money in programs runs counter to the governor's streamlining initiatives.

"How do we ask for additional money when we're asking to eliminate funds in some other agencies?" she said.

For example, the child advocate office is estimated to cost $300,000 a year, with the child advocate being paid $68,000, an economic analyst at $62,000 and a special assistant making $32,000. Those are salaries only, and do not include benefits.

The proposal also calls for $60,000 in funding for the council, setting aside $150,000 for data to show how programs are working, and a needs assessment of parents and child care providers. The commission will come back next month to make final decisions on the proposal that will go to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee.

Attorney General Steven Rowe argued that, even if they recommend spending $10 million a year on early childhood programs, it's a small amount compared to what the state spends on K-12 education -- about $1 billion a year.

"I don't think we should pretend we're the Appropriations Committee," he said. "As a total, it pales in comparison to what we spend on other educational levels in the state."

Rowe also said the investments in early childhood development will save the state money later in other areas because children will grow to be healthier adults who don't need as many state services.

Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess, R-Cumberland, said she supports creating the advocate position, the council and the study, but would hold off on other action until there's more information.

"We're all stumbling around here because we don't have enough facts to make the plan," she said. The commission, which includes lawmakers, an economist and child care professionals, is charged by the Legislature with coming up with a three-year plan to identify and address the needs for early childhood programming.

Rowe said one of the problems is that there are 47,000 children from birth to age 5, and only 24,000 licensed day care slots available.

The commission discussed the need to find a way to get more money to low-income parents so they could put their children in better quality day care. They talked about providing subsidies and tax credits.

Paul Bolin, director of employee relations for Eastern Maine Medical Center, said tax credits will force families to wait a year before they get money to cover the cost of day care.

"If a family is just barely making ends meet, what I will get back in a year is less important than what can I afford today," he said.

The child advocate's job would be to better coordinate the activities of all state agencies that provide early childhood services, find ways to eliminate duplication, and analyze the state budget to find out how it impacts children. The person would not provide direct help to parents, but would try to find ways to change the system so parents and children are better served.

The council would be a 22-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature.

Commission Chairman Rep. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor, said he'd like to consider whether sending the issue out to voters would be a better way to make progress, rather than leaving it up to lawmakers.

"We all agree the substance is right," he said. "How do we get policy through when the revenues aren't there?"

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com

Bookmark and share this story: