New York’s State Budget Must Prioritize Affordability for Families

Among the proposals with the highest potential to cut child poverty and make New York more affordable for families is the Senate's proposal to create and begin to implement a new refundable tax credit, the Working Families Tax Credit. [...] The state must make a substantial and sustained investment in New York’s child care workforce and extend the promise of care to all children in our state. [...] As a member of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, we appreciate the Senate and Assembly including $220 million in additional funds for child care workforce retention grants, bringing the total investment in the workforce to $500 million. [...] While this falls short of the $1.2 billion that is needed, it is a critical investment in the ‘workforce behind the workforce.’ What is needed in the final budget, however, is a commitment to providing workforce supplements on a permanent basis – as recommended in the Senate resolution. [...] Together with a statewide group of advocates, providers, and New Yorkers impacted by the child welfare system, we were pleased to see state funding for child welfare Preventive Services restored to 65% in both the Senate and Assembly proposals and urge its inclusion in the final budget.