Don't Cut Funding to Maine Childcare Providers
Governor Janet Mills
What is happening to childcare providers in Maine?
Governor Janet Mills has proposed cutting $35 million from childcare workers and providers over the next two years. The budget plan includes taking away $30 million from childcare worker stipends, which would reduce the average earnings of childcare workers by $4,000. This would lower their hourly wage from $16.40 to $15.15 an hour.
Why does this matter?
Childcare workers are already paid in the lowest 3% of all workers in the U.S., so it's no surprise that childcare centers struggle to stay fully staffed. Lowering the pay for these workers will likely make the problem worse. These budget cuts could cause even more workers to leave their jobs, leading to daycare centers having to close rooms or even entire facilities. Maine already has a shortage of childcare, and these cuts will likely make it even harder for families to find care.
Governor Mills’ plan also includes a $5 million cut to a scholarship program that helps childcare workers pay for their own children's childcare. This program has helped parents stay in the field without spending most of their earnings on childcare for their kids. Cutting this program will make it harder for childcare workers to afford care for their own children and could worsen the shortage of workers.
Sign this petition to show you stand with Maine's childcare providers!
Let Governor Mills know that you do not support these budget cuts. Our children and childcare providers are too important to let this happen.
Add your voice by signing the petition below to tell Governor Mills that there should be NO budget cuts to childcare in Maine.
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
Governor Janet Mills
From:
[Your Name]
We do not support the proposed cutting $35 million from childcare workers and providers over the course of the next two years. Our children and our teachers matter too much to allow this to happen.
With childcare workers already being paid in the bottom 3% of all workforce laborers across the county, it is no surprise that childcare facilities struggle to keep fully staffed. Reducing the pay of childcare workers will only exacerbate the problem. With more workers leaving the profession, childcare facilities will be forced to close classrooms, and in some cases, entire daycares. With a childcare shortage already firmly present in the state of Maine, this proposed budget cut will make childcare even harder to come by than it already is.
We are sending a loud and clear message with this petition that there should be NO budget cuts to childcare in Maine.