Sitka Assembly takes up a child care funding source Tuesday

Sitka families struggling to find affordable child care could see a funding source move forward when the City and Borough of Sitka Assembly meets Tuesday, Sept. 8, seven weeks after members held a work session devoted to the shortage. The agenda lists the item for discussion, direction or decision, along with an implementation model. No mechanism has been adopted.

A separate Sept. 8 item asks the Assembly to decide whether to allow sales-tax-free days after Thanksgiving.

At the July 21 work session, requested by Assembly members Kevin Mosher and Thor Christianson, survey data showed most parents struggle to find affordable care. Nearly two-thirds of employers said the shortage hurt their business.

Providers elsewhere in Alaska describe a gap between costs and tuition. At the Anchorage ACCEE Fund Board's July 15 meeting on child care funding, Cindy Ruiz said, "we're charging rates that don't quite cover all the costs, right? With our goal of bringing families in."

Public testimony is limited to three minutes. The Assembly meets at 6 p.m. at 330 Harbor Drive.