SALT LAKE CITY — After facing sharp criticism over its decision to close four daycare centers through upcoming budget cuts, the Salt Lake County Council amended its plans slightly, voting to keep the affected centers funded through May.
The council voted 5-3 on Monday in favor of councilmember Aimee Winder Newton’s motion to extend the funding for the county-run childcare centers in Magna, Kearns, Millcreek and the Fairpark neighborhood.
Emotions run high as parents face Salt Lake County Council over daycare center closures:
Emotions run high as parents face SLCo Council over daycare center closures
The council’s original decision to slash the centers met immediate resistance from families whose children attend the locations. Several parents voiced their anger at the council and its plans during last week’s meeting, during which some attendees were escorted out of the building.
With the extension, councilmembers said they hope it will give parents extra time to find alternatives for their children.
But not everyone was impressed.
“Once the summer comes. I have to find childcare then, and you’re going to tell me my childcare costs will more than double what I’m paying right now?” asked Mackenzie Miller, whose daughter attends the Magna center.
Miller was among several parents left shaking their heads in disapproval, feeling the extension would leave them scrambling for options.
“If this was done of my own free will, then it’s going to be open. I’d have time to figure it out. I feel like a lot of daycares are going to get slammed,” he said.
Alternatives have been discussed with Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson proposing a year-long extension to December 2026.
Republican council member Laurie Stringham contends the centers weren’t full in spite of their affordability. She also pointed to state audits done this year, which found a lack of oversight at the facilities.
“We have so many programs that we run in the county, and we have to evaluate every program on how it functions,” Stringham said.
Parents like Miller say they won’t give up their fight and have already started a petition that has over 2,000 signatures.
“Our kids are going to lose childcare. It affects us and our families, it affects the families of people who work there,” he said.
Stringham says the council recognizes this is a difficult reality for many. So, they’re looking to possibly set up a fund for those affected.
“…allowing people to donate to help these families get on their feet for a period of time until they can figure this out,” she claimed, adding that she didn’t rule out the possibility of revisiting the topic in the next six months to search for more long-term solutions.
“The county shouldn’t be running it, that was clear,” Stringham said. “But that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be others who would do a good job running it.”
Those who opposed the extension, such as councilmember Suzanne Harrison, shared how there hadn’t been a “good process” to find solutions that were “fiscally sustainable and viable” to keep the programs open longer than the May deadline. Councilmembers Ross Romero and Natalie Pinkney also voted against the extension.
“While today’s vote provided more time for enrolled families to find alternative sources of care, I believe we should have taken the time necessary to make these childcare programs viable for the long term,” said Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Salt Lake County has a history of offering affordable, accessible programs for children, families, individuals, and seniors. I will continue to work to ensure that this mission is not compromised at Salt Lake County.”
