NM Gov. Richardson To Use Expected Federal Money To Partially Restore Childcare Cuts

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has directed the state Human Services Department to plan on using expected funding recently passed by Congress to restore some budget cuts for childcare assistance.

The state has applied for federal grant money recently passed by Congress. Nearly $8.7 million could be available to reduce childcare provider budget cuts from 8 percent to 4 percent. The money would also enable the state to extend childcare assistance at that level through the rest of the budget year, which ends in June 2011.

Richardson recently provided $2 million in federal stimulus money to help offset some of the federal and legislative cuts to childcare services.

“I am doing everything possible to offset the loss of federal money and deal with the tremendous increase in the demand for childcare services,” Richardson said in a statement. “This grant money, in addition to the stimulus money I provided, will ensure that vulnerable families continue to have access to this essential assistance during tough economic times.”

Source: New Mexico Governor’s Office.