St. Paul voters say no to ‘free child care’ tax on ballot

Question about child care tax increase in St. Paul

St. Paul residents will vote on a proposed tax increase to help cover child care costs. FOX 9’s Soyeon Kim explains.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Saint Paul voters decided the fate of the kindergarten tax levy that supporters said would help fund day care for needy families, but opponents said it would not be financially sustainable in the long term – ultimately rejecting the idea as it was proposed to him during 2024 General Election Ballot.

Voting results

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State election results, voting measure was rejected by 59.94% of the votes, or 77,064 residents who voted “no”.

The measure received 51,501 votes, or 40.06%.

Mayor Carter explains child care veto

St. Paul voters will soon have to decide whether they want to pay more in taxes to provide free child care for children five years old and younger. The St. Paul City Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to override Mayor Melvin Carter’s veto of the initiative and give voters the opportunity to decide in November 2024.

Background

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter previously said that even if voters approve the program, his administration will not implement the program.

In August 2023, the St. Paul City Council voted to approve a bill to go before voters that would ultimately provide approximately $20 million to fund free child care for children whose families earn less than 185% of the federal poverty level, or about $55,500. annually.

Carter vetoed the proposal, saying he had “no other choice” after his team looked at the numbers and couldn’t make the finances make sense.

Although no financial analysis was performed, Carter said total costs would approach a minimum of $111 million per year: $81 million to fully fund child care for families living below the poverty line, $20 million to partially fund child care for families who earn more and $10. million for administrative expenses.

The City Council then voted 5-2 to override Carter’s veto and send the issue to voters this November.

In September, the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, which represents thousands of teachers from around the world, St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) – said their union members do not support the measure.at the time, said it would “require St. Paul taxpayers to fund yet another voucher program, transferring more public dollars to private and for-profit child care providers without any plan.”

When asked how he voted on the St. Paul child care referendum, Gov. Tim Walz did not respond directly. Let me just say that he followed the advice of St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.

Walz says he voted against child care bill in St. Paul

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz voted early Wednesday. After the vote, he told reporters that he voted against the St. Paul child care bill.