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Child Care Providers Anticipate 8% Cuts Are Still Too Much

Too much.

Child care providers in Las Cruces said they simply cannot afford to operate with the State?s proposed cuts. Last week, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson shifted the burden from thousands of families to child care providers. Now the state?s 10% cuts have been reduced to 8% but some providers said that is still too deep.

“The 10% or 8% percent the Governor’s taking is almost like taking half our money or more,” Karen Sowards, owner of Kid?s Kountry Child Care in Las Cruces, said.

Kid?s Kountry has five locations throughout the city. But Sowards said the state?s proposed cuts will cost the centers far too much.

“If your profit margin is 20%, and your whole gross income is the 100%…then if you’re taking a 10% cut off the gross, it’s like taking 50% off your income,” Sowards said.

And that is in a great month. On average, Sowards anticipates 10% or 8% cuts would slash more than half her profit.

?The quality will definitely go down, and possibly more centers, maybe half of mine, will go out of business,? Sowards said.

For one day, about 700 kids and 65 employees at Kid?s Kountry will feel the effects. The center will temporarily close Thursday in observance of ?Early Childhood Awareness Day,? to help send a message to Governor Richardson to reduce cuts even further. Sowards said 2% cuts would be much more manageable.

Wednesday, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Susana Martinez shared her thoughts.

?This administration should have been thinking way ahead,? Martinez said. ?Children Youth and Families Department and this program are under this administration. They knew there was going to be a problem, and instead have been spending stimulus dollars in a very foolish way, instead of making sure our kids were taken care of first.”

Martinez?s opponent, Diane Denish, could not be reached for comment but her campaign issued this statement on her behalf: ?Diane Denish believes nothing is more important than keeping New Mexicans on the job, and that is what child care does. She has always fought against child care cuts, and as Governor, will prioritize programs that help keep working moms on the job.?

Sowards said she anticipates the effects of state cuts will be felt over the next few months.

?Early Childhood Awareness Day? is Thursday, October 7. Many child care providers in Las Cruces and across the state of New Mexico will join Kid?s Kountry and be closed for the day. Child care workers, parents, and kids will gather at Apodaca Park in North Las Cruces from 9 to 11a.m. to rally against the state?s cuts.

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