I'M MARISA WOJCIK.

>> FINDING AND AFFORDING CHILDCARE IN WISCONSIN IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY FAMILIES AND NOW STATE BUDGET ACTION THIS WEEK DE-FUNDED A PANDEMIC SUBSIDY PROGRAM THAT GOVERNOR TONY EVERS WANTED TO MAKE PERMANENT.

THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM AND HUNDREDS OF MVMENTDZ IN FEDERAL SUPPORT TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS FOR STAFFING AND TO MAINTAIN COSTS FOR PARENTS.

THE DOLLARS GO AWAY IN FEBRUARY BUT ARE STEEPLY REDUCED FOR PROVIDERS STARTING THIS MONTH.

WE CHECK IN WITH ONE CHILDCARE PROVIDER IN RICHLAND CENTER FOR HER REACTION TO THE END OF THE CHILDCARE COUNTS PROGRAM.

WE'RE JOINED BY JENNIE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO YOU HAVE SOME STAFF INTENSIVE CARE BECAUSE YOU PROVIDE INFANT CARE, I UNDERSTAND, THE ONLY SUCH CENTER WHERE YOU ARE.

WHAT WILL THE LOSS OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS MEAN TO YOUR CENTER AND THE FAMILIES THAT YOU SERVE?

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE FEES FOR THE FAMILIES BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUDGET CORRECTLY TO GIVE THE TEACHERS THAT I HAVE THE QUALITY PAY THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THE QUALITY TEACHERS.

I WILL HAVE TO CUT MY BUDGETS, MY SUPPLIES, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO UPDATE ANY EQUIPMENT.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT GO OF IT WITHOUT THIS MONEY.

>> DO YOU EXPECT THAT, GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE TO RAISE FEES, THAT SOME FAMILIES WILL MAKE THE CHOICE TO FOREGO CHILDCARE AS A RESULT AND YOU WILL THEREFORE LOSE FAMILIES?

>> I DO.

I DO.

I FEEL PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORK.

IT'S GOING TO BE A DOMINO EFFECT.

>> SO YOU WERE DESCRIBING THAT UNDER THE PROGRAM, YOU WERE GETTING ABOUT $10,000 A MONTH.

WHAT WERE YOU ABLE TO DO WITH THAT EXTRA FEDERAL MONEY COMING TO YOU THROUGH THIS PROGRAM?

>> THAT MONEY WAS PAYING THE PAYROLL TAXES THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR HAVING MY STAFF, AND ALSO I WAS UPDATING THINGS.

I RECENTLY OPENED THIS RICHLAND CENTER AREA AND PROVIDED THREE MORE ROOMS FOR INFANT CARE, BUT THAT WAS WITH CHILDCARE COUNTS MONEY HELPED PAY FOR THE TAXES AND THEN WE ALSO HAD TO PARTNER UP, AND THAT HELPED PAY FOR THAT THREE EXTRA DOORS.

PARTNER UP IS STILL GOING THROUGH I BELIEVE -- I DON'T REMEMBER.

ONE MORE YEAR.

THROUGH NEXT YEAR.

AND WITH THIS CHILDCARE COUNTS CUTS OFF IN FEBRUARY.

>> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS EVEN WITH THE FEDERAL SUBSIDY?

>> IT'S HARD.

IT'S HARD.

I DON'T PAY NEAR WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BECAUSE OF -- I MEAN, I HAVE VERY, VERY GOOD STAFF, VERY GOOD GIRLS THAT LOVE THEIR JOBS, THEY LOVE THE KIDDOS, BUT I CAN'T PAY THEM WHAT A FACTORY WOULD PAY OR SOMEBODY DOWN THE ROAD, THE HOSPITALS CAN PAY, BUT THEY LOVE THEIR JOBS AND THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO.

IT'S HARD TO COMPETE WITH THE OUTSIDE.

>> WHAT YOU DO IS SO VITAL AND SO IMPORTANT AND SUCH HARD WORK.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND ITS IMPORTANCE?

>> I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THEY CAN REVISIT IT AND, YOU KNOW, FIND A WAY TO PUT IT INTO THE BUDGET.

IT'S SOMETHING THANKFUL HAS HELPED FAMILIES, I MEAN, THE FUNDS -- WE'VE OPENED UP 200 SLOTS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS JUST WITH THESE FUNDS AND THE HELP OF THESE FUNDS, WE'RE HELPING LOTS OF FAMILIES GET BACK TO WORK.

WE ARE IN THE BROOKLYN CENTER AREA.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND CHILDCARE.

WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES UP TO WISCONSIN BECAUSE OF THIS CHILDCARE.

I JUST HAD A FAMILY SIGN UP FROM GEORGIA, SOMEONE MOVED FROM TEXAS.

SO, I MEAN, THIS PROGRAM, I DON'T RELY ON FEDERAL MONEY, BUT IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO KEEP MY DOORS OPEN AND KEEP THE HIGH QUALITY CARE THAT WE GIVE HERE AT SUNSHINE.

>> ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIRS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE SAYS THEY WILL BE BANKING $MAKING $45 MILLION AVAILABLE NOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND $15 MILLION FOR A REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR CHILDCARE CENTER UPGRADES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK SOUNDS WOULD BE HELPFUL?

>> THE LOW INCOMES FAMILIES, YES, BUT YOU'RE REALLY MISSING THE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES OR THE -- OR THE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR THOSE PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S WHERE I CAN KEEP MY FEES AT A DECENTLY LEVEL FOR THOSE -- DECENT LEVEL