Board to consider daycare deregulation resolution

Later this month, Marathon County supervisors will consider adopting a resolution that calls for less regulation in the childcare industry as a possible solution to a daycare shortage that many believe is keeping people out of the workforce.

Last week, after months of discussing the issue, the Extension, Education and Economic Development Committee (EEEDC) voted 4-2 to advance a resolution written by supervisor David Baker that explicitly rejects the idea of the county providing childcare subsidies. Instead, it directs county staff “to identify state and county regulations that negatively impact the number of certified family child care providers in the county.”

The resolution suggests providing feedback to the state, which sets childcare regulations, and also proposes “potential pilot programs to reduce unnecessary child care regulation while still maintaining high standards of health and safety.” It also calls for a quarterly report from county staff “detailing the results of this effort.”

Baker’s resolution stands in stark contrast to the message of local childcare advocates, who have repeatedly told supervisors that the county needs to take a more active role in expanding childcare options for working families who often cannot afford daycare tuition. They have drawn attention to the decline in the number of daycare providers in the county due to staff burnout and the inability to pay competitive wages.

Kelly Borchardt, director of the Childcaring referral agency, spoke in opposition to Baker’s resolution, saying that regulations and standards are needed to “protect our youngest, most vulnerable citizens.”

“We simply cannot ensure health and safety without regulation and monitoring,” she said.

Borchardt told the story of a parent whose child was at an unregulated home daycare with 11 children, and one of them had to go to the emergency room after drinking cough syrup. She said it’s an example of why capacity limits are needed for daycare providers.

Instead of looking at deregulation, Borchardt said supervisors should follow the lead of other cities and counties that are using money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to directly support childcare providers.

Baker said his proposal is rooted in his belief that the county should not get involved with providing daycare to residents.

“I would be the first to agree that this resolution won’t solve the childcare issue,” he said. “I also would be the first to say that I don’t think the childcare issue is the government’s responsibility. I think it’s the parents’ responsibility.”

Supervisor Tom Rosenberg said Baker’s resolution is a “non-starter for me,” arguing that it’s based on a dubious report by the Badger Institute, which he referred to as “a hit piece” against childcare providers. He said the county should not be encouraging providers to stuff as many kids as possible into unlicensed operations. “It isn’t a matter of warehousing kids,” he said, noting the importance of safety, social interaction, good nutrition and education for young children.

Supervisor John Robinson, chairman of the Human Resources, Finance and Personnel Committee, said he believes ARPA money could be used for childcare since many parents initially left the workforce during COVID-19, so the expense would be “pandemic-related.” Supervisor Gayle Marshall, however, opposed using those short-term funds for a long-term subsidy program, since it would eventually create a funding “cliff.”

Baker noted that the state’s Wisconsin Shares already provides $10,000 per child for childcare, so “there’s already substantial support for low-income families.”

Supervisor Crystal Bushman said she agreed with Baker’s resolution.

“I still feel that it’s just not a role for the government to get involved in childcare funding,” she said. “Just because other counties are doing it doesn’t mean they’re successful with it.”

Bushman and Baker joined with supervisors Becky Buch and Kim Ungerer in voting for the resolution. Rosenberg and committee chairman Rick Seefeldt voted against it.