Resolution 215-2012 Commissioner Carruthers
RESOLUTION NO. 215 - 2012
A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA URGING THE GOVERNOR AND
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO RESTORE FUNDING TO MIAMI -
DADE/MONROE COUNTIES FOR RECENT CUTS TO SUBSIDIZED
CHILD CARE SLOTS AND TO DEVELOP A NEW FUNDING FORMULA
BASED ON EQUITY THAT CONSIDERS SOCIO- ECONOMIC
VARIABLES AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ON THE WAITING
LIST.
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2012, 4 days before the beginning of FY 12/13, Florida's
Office of Early Learning (OEL) released a new School Readiness (SR) funding allocation
formula; attempting to achieve "equity" for all 67 Florida counties by redistributing the existing
state SR allocation; and
WHEREAS, as of June 30, 2012, 710 Monroe County children are already enrolled in
the SR; and
WHEREAS, for this fiscal year (7/1/12 — 6/30/13) the overall reduction to Miami -
Dade/Monroe counties derived from this new formula is $3,771,397 (Monroe = $206,920); and
WHEREAS, the impact of the new OEL School Readiness Funding Formula for Monroe
County Year One is a projected loss of 40 child care slots; and
WHEREAS, the Year One — Year Six projected impact from the new OEL SR Funding
Formula to Monroe County is a loss of $1,618,842 (- 51.22 %) and a projected loss of a total of
350 child care slots; and
WHEREAS, the possible consequences in Year One funding loss includes establishment
of a Wait List with priority to serve ages birth to 5; and
WHEREAS, there will be no funding for school age care (ages 5 -9) seriously impacting
2 afterschool care providers (Boys & Girls Club and Upper Keys YMCA) which may threaten
continued operation; and
WHEREAS, there will be a projected decrease in dollars to improve the quality of care
in contracted School Readiness centers and family child care homes (warehousing of children vs.
preparing children for success in Kindergarten and beyond); and
WHEREAS, an increase in parent fees will create additional hardships to "working
poor" families struggling in this economy; and
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WHEREAS, this loss of funding will negatively impact the child care provider
community jeopardizing continued operation; and
WHEREAS, a typical family in the program uses about 7 percent of income to pay for
child care, and without this assistance, the cost of child care for a working poor family increases
to 50% of income; and
WHEREAS, inadequately funding the child care system will cost the State of Florida
more money as parents lose access to child care and potentially lose their jobs and need to utilize
public assistance programs such as Medicaid, unemployment and food stamps; and
WHEREAS, high quality early education is a strong investment that yields a high
public return ($1 invested saves at least $7 in avoided unemployment and criminal justice costs)
and creates and preserves jobs; and
WHEREAS, these cuts, resulting from a change in the School Readiness funding
formula, shift dollars ($22.3 million from Miami -Dade and Monroe counties alone) to other
counties in need; and
WHEREAS, the funding formula has been changed to create "equity" when no
definition of "equity" in this context has been established; and
WHEREAS, a formula that takes from counties such as Miami - Dade/Monroe to give to
give to other counties such as Osceola County is flawed and that The Office of Early Learning
should not have to make these choices, and
WHEREAS, no parent should have to choose between work and safe, quality child care
for their young children;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA that:
Section 1. The Governor and Florida Legislature should restore funding to counties
such as Miami - Dade/Monroe that have recently experienced cuts as a result of the change in
funding formula,
Section 2. The Office of Early Learning is encouraged to meet with all stakeholders,
including child care providers, and staff and board members of Early Learning Coalitions in
upcoming workshops as well as annually prior to the submittal of the funding formula by
January 1 of each year, as required by Florida Statute.
Section 3. As the recession subsides and revenues begin a steady climb, it is critical
to the well -being of young children that the Florida Legislature provide a meaningful increase to
the school readiness program to ensure Florida has a strong foundation for the talent pipeline, so
necessary to our future economic vitality.
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Section 4. The Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to:
a. Governor Rick Scott, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 3230
b. FL Representative Ron Saunders, 1402 The Capitol, 402 South Monroe Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32399 -1300
c. FL Senator Larcenia Bullard, 218 Senate Office Building, 404 South
Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 -1100
d. Mel Jurado, Director, Florida's Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Drive,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
e. Octavio A. Verdeja, Chairman, Early Learning Coalition of Miami -Dade I
Monroe, 2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd, 5th Floor, Coral Gables, Florida 33134
f. Evelio Torres, President & CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Miami -
Dade/Monroe, 2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd, 5th Floor, Coral Gables, Florida
33134
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on thei5thday of August , 2012.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Kim Wigington Yes
Commissioner Heather Carruthers Yes
- Commissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes
Cotmissioner George Neugent Yes
(SEAL) r % ' BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
B"''^"'`'� By /()21","‘ ,
Clerk Mayor David Rice
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Impact of OEL School Readiness Funding Formula on Monroe County
Year One Reduction in Funding to Monroe County = $ 206,920 (- 6.5 %)
o Projected loss of 40 child care slots in Year One
• 72% of funding is spent on child care slots
• 710 children currently enrolled as of June 30, 2012
Year Two Reduction in Funding to Monroe County = $ 235,320
o Projected loss of an additional 46 child care slots in Year Two
Total Reduction Year One — Year Six in Funding to Monroe County = $ 1,618,841.87 (- 51.22 %)
o Projected loss of a total of 350 child care slots Year One — Year Six
Possible Consequences in Year One:
o Establishment of Wait list with priority to serve ages birth to 5;
o No funding for school age care, ages 5 to 9
• Serious impact to 2 afterschool care providers, Boys and Girls Club and Upper
Keys YMCA, which may threaten continued operation
o Decrease in quality dollars to improve the quality of care in contracted School
Readiness centers and family child care homes
• Warehousing of children verses preparing children for success in
kindergarten and beyond
o Increase in parent fee (creating additional hardship to "working poor" families
struggling in this economy)
o Negative impact to child care provider community
• Open slots; parents inability to pay the full cost of care; jeopardizing
continued operation
Long Term Consequences: Dire
Source: Early Learning Coalition Miami - Dade /Monroe and Wesley House Services