By james art 
St. Paul voters will decide whether to approve a tax increase to help fund child care for families in need.
However, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said even if voters approve it, his administration cannot and will not implement it.
Child care is a major expense for many families with young children. St. Paul City Council member Rebecca Nocker is leading the effort on a child care funding proposal that is on the ballot and in the hands of voters this election cycle.
“Create a dedicated local fund that will help thousands of St. Paul children afford child care and early learning opportunities,” Noecker said.
The ballot question asks voters to “authorize” the city to levy property taxes to fund child care for families in need.
“The average impact on the average household is $16 more each year. So $16 in the first year, $32, $48, etc.,” Noecker said.
Noecker said the need in the community is great.
“More than half of our kids in St. Paul are below that $58,000 for a family of four,” Noecker said.
In a letter addressed to the City Council, Carter said he would not implement the tax increase if voters approve it. Calling the ballot question “misleading” and “functionally dysfunctional,” Carter explained, “the resources available do not exist to fulfill these commitments.”
Carter also pointed to language on the ballot questions to “authorize” a property tax increase and called it “advisory in nature.”
Carter also said equity is an issue, as the funding allocated will only serve some families – but not others.
“This proposal would serve an average of only 404 children per year, at a total cost of $110 million in property tax increases. “Given that St. Paul is home to more than 20,000 preschool children, this range is far from the implied universality of the question being asked of the voter,” Carter said.”
Noecker acknowledges that this funding won’t cover all eligible families, but said he thinks it’s a worthwhile investment.
“When children are birth to five years old, all the brain development is happening, all these connections are happening. This will help them learn and be successful for the rest of their lives.”
If that measure passes, the City Council said it is on the agenda for Wednesday to discuss adopting the program plan.
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