- Salt Lake County Council plans to preserve child care access for low-income families.
- The council voted to evaluate existing centers for potential partnerships with child care providers.
- Summer programs and broader options for families are also being explored by the council.
SALT LAKE CITY — Existing county-operated child care spaces at four centers across Salt Lake County could continue to be used in a similar capacity.
On Tuesday, the Salt Lake County Council voted unanimously to issue a "legislative intent" to preserve child care access for low-income and vulnerable families.
The council also plans to explore summer programs for families throughout the county.
"This legislative intent basically directs the mayor's office to consider the different spaces and evaluate them for continued child care use," said council chairwoman Aimee Winder Newton during Tuesday's County Council meeting.
The action to explore child care options is being sponsored by Winder Newton and Councilwoman Laurie Stringham.
Currently, a parks and recreation funded program operates day care services at the Kearns, Magna, Millcreek Activity and Northwest Activity recreation centers.
Amid significant pushback from parents and residents, the Salt Lake County Council voted last November to shutter the subsidized program at the four centers, with services set to end on May 31.
However, with the new legislative intent, the four child care spaces will be evaluated to determine which are viable for lease to potential partners who provide child care and to prioritize low-income families. The council also hopes to encourage the Granite School District to continue leasing space to a child care partner at the Millcreek facility, according to a Salt Lake County press release on Tuesday.
If the plan were to move forward, it would keep existing facilities in use, acknowledging the different child care needs across Salt Lake County without the burden on taxpayers, Winder Newton explained.
"Rising child care costs and limited availability continue to strain working families across Salt Lake County," said Winder Newton in a statement. "These partnerships can provide child care spaces while respecting property taxpayers who would not be on the hook to pay for the services."
Stringham said the plan provides a pathway for collaboration between the County Council, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson's office, and potential partners to enhance child care services.
"By thoughtfully evaluating these spaces and partnering with qualified providers, we are ensuring that vulnerable families continue to have access to critical child care services," she said in a statement.
Councilmembers Jiro Johnson and Suzanne Harrison, who both sponsored the legislative intent to examine broader summertime programming, noted the stress families may face when seeking child care options during school closures.
"Many Salt Lake County families, including those affected by the recent decision to close county-operated child care centers, struggle to find affordable child care solutions during summer months when school is not in session," Johnson said in a statement. "We care about all families in the county and want to ensure parents have high-quality options and programming for their kids."
Salt Lake County Councilwoman Suzanne Harrison, who opposed the closure of the county-funded day care program, said expanded summertime programs for children support families who may struggle to find care during those months when schools are closed.
"Broader Salt Lake County summertime programming for kids could help fill a needed gap for families who struggle finding affordable and safe summertime care," she said in a statement. "We are pursuing options to help more working families throughout the county."
The County Council is expected to revisit the matter in a future meeting once options have been evaluated.
