Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he would not support a request to add $15 million to the state budget to boost the wages of child care providers, instead announcing the formation of a task force that will examine the issue.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Thursday he did not support afrom child care providers to add millions of dollars to the coming fiscal year’s budget to raise wages for child care providers, instead announcing the formation of a task force that will examine the issue and provide policy recommendations to the governor by the end of the year.
Child care advocates said they were hopeful that the formation of the task force signaled a recognition by the administration of a problem that has— by one estimate costing Alaska $165 million in lost economic activity per year. But they also said urgent action was needed while the task force completes its work.
Sen. Löki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat, said she had already expressed interest in serving as the Senate’s non-voting representative on the task force, but “it’s really imperative” to provide child care solutions this year rather than waiting until the task force has completed its work. The House is also considering several measures to improve child care worker wages and improve availability without adding money to the grant program.
Dunleavy announced the formation of the task force at the Credit Union 1 Alaska headquarters in Anchorage, which operates an on-site day care for employee children. Dunleavy signaled that while state investment could be needed, he was also looking to the private sector to provide solutions.
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