BUFFALO, NY-- Erie County plans on expanding its subsidized day care program.
County officials say they will be able to raise the income standard with no local fiscal impact to taxpayers until 2014 by using federal and state child care funds.
"By leveraging unused child care funds, we will now be able to restore the subsidized child care eligibility rate to 200% without any fiscal impact on local taxpayers," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz (D). "This means dozens upon dozens of families in our community will have access to high-quality, affordable day care for their children while allowing their parents to work."
Poloncarz noted that day care doesn't just help working families, but it also gives a boose to the economy.
Erie County's day care subsidy provides services for approximately 3,700 children. The increase to the 200% level would add up to 200 additional children each month.
This increase will take effect on March 5, 2012, and those who wish to apply for services should call the County's Department of Social Services at (716) 858-8953.
Erie County Executive's Office