KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – One of the items that will find at the end of the ballot is a new proposal to fund early education and childcare in Kalamazoo County.
Like the Senior Millage and the Housing Millage, this special fund would create a dedicated pool of funds, in this case to make daycare more accessible for young families.
Millage advocate Jen Stroven says Kalamazoo County is a childcare desert, and its created dire problems for young families, local employers and disadvantaged many children.
“Parents are often placed on a wait list, as long as 18 months impacting their ability to remain employed and build financial stability for their families,” says Stroven, and she adds only one in four families can find affordable childcare.
“The millage proposes to expand access to care, particularly the zero to three age range, to lower the cost of child care for working families, and provide stability for providers in those businesses.”
Republican county commissioner John Gisler voted against putting it on the ballot.
He isn’t against the proposal, just the funding mechanism.
“There’s no reason we need another mileage, we need childcare, definitely but we need to find that money somewhere in a $325 million budget,” says Gisler, adding “If we can’t then we all ought to be thrown out.”
The ballot requests approval of half a mil for 8 years.
It would cost the typical homeowner between $50 and $100 per year, depending on the value of their home.
Vote “NO” on this millage. The county ALREADY has 8 separate taxes on homeowners. This would be number 9. Taxpayers are tapped out and struggling to pay their property taxes. Plus there is the question of who is trying to buy this election:
𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟒 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱
There is a lot of money pushing for a “yes” vote on Kalamazoo County’s Child Care Tax on the August 4 ballot.
“Yes For Families” is the ballot committee campaigning for a “yes” vote, and it has mailed at least two full-color flyers, and is also buying commercials on local TV outlets. This costs a lot of money. Where did they get it?
“Yes For Families” recently filed its pre-election campaign finance report, which is available on the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s website. The details in the report are shocking and eye-opening.
The committee has raised $255,321. That’s right – a quarter of a million dollars to campaign for a yes vote.
But what is more shocking than the large amount, is the source of the money. $250,000, or 98% of the committee’s total receipts, come from just four major donors. They are:
$115,000 from Grow Kalamazoo, a local lobbying group formed to get a county-wide child care tax approved by the voters. Grow Kalamazoo is a 501c4 organization which does not have to disclose its donors.
$75,000 from one individual who lists her occupation as “Not Employed” and her address is an office building.
$50,000 from Children’s Funding Accelerator, a lobbying group in Washington D.C. whose mission is to get tax millages passed nationwide. This group is also a 501c4 organization which does not have to disclose its donors.
$10,000 from CityScope, whose address is a single-family home in Kansas City, Missouri, and not much else can be found about it.
Bottom line – the vast majority of money (98%) pushing for the Child Care Tax is what is classified as dark money – from organizations which do not have to disclose their donors, and an individual whose employment and address are being concealed.
Kalamazoo County voters should not be hoodwinked by large amounts of dark money coming into our community, trying to influence our elections. They should vote “NO” on August 4 on the County Child Care Tax.