|
 The move fulfills an agreement made with the
legislature in 2015 to raise the income eligibility criteria to 185%
of the federal poverty level from 162%. It means 16,000 more
children will receive child care each month, for the remainder of
Fiscal Year 2018.
Rauner included the funds to boost the levels in his proposed budget
and stressed that the CCAP funding decision was made to ensure that
parents can continue working without worrying about how their
children will be cared for. “I am proud to stand with families who
are working two or three jobs just to make a living,” he said. “Many
of them are already struggling, and now they’re taking an even
deeper cut in their income thanks to the 32% increase in income
taxes the legislature passed in July.”
[to top of second
column] |
Even with the massive tax hike, the Governor’s Office of
Management and Budget estimates the state budget is at least $1.7 billion out of
balance. Rauner is asking the legislature to work with him to identify
additional spending reforms and bring the budget into balance.
Criteria for CCAP eligibility are determined through the administrative rule
making process, which is overseen by the bipartisan, legislative Joint Committee
on Administrative Rules. IDHS plans to implement the new criteria through
emergency rulemaking, ensuring more families can receive child care as quickly
as possible. The Department will also continue working with the child care
community to closely monitor the availability of funds and make adjustments,
when necessary, to ensure the state is meeting the needs of families while still
being fiscally responsible.
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner] |
