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CALIFORNIA HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST CHILD CARE COSTS IN THE NATION
Via David Lightman...
A California household earning an annual income of $92,000, the state’s household median, can expect to spend $648 monthly on child care — one of the nation’s highest costs, a new study found.
“Given the state’s reputation for high living costs, including housing and healthcare, it’s no surprise that child care expenses are also a considerable burden for families,” the report from ProfitDuel , a tech and software provider, said.
“California’s high cost of living in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco makes child care a critical financial concern for families,” ProfitDuel said. “While there are efforts to make care more affordable, the current demand far exceeds what’s available”.
ProfitDuel analyzed U.S. Census bureau data for recent years and found that the District of Columbia had the highest monthly child care cost. The city’s median household income was $102,000 and the household spending on child care came out to $796 a month.
The others that rated as more expensive than California:
▪ New Jersey. Median household income, $97,000. Monthly child care spending, $684.68.“New Jersey’s proximity to major metropolitan areas like New York City increases demand for child care services,” the report found.
“This, in turn, drives up prices as parents vie for limited slots at daycares and after-school programs. We’re also seeing a trend where families are opting for higher-quality or specialized care, which comes with an even greater price tag,” ProfitDuel said.
▪ Massachusetts. Median household income, $97,000. Monthly child care spending, $683.16..
“The Bay State is known for its prestigious education system, and that emphasis on quality often begins with child care,” the study found. “Parents are prioritizing high-quality care that fosters early learning, which is driving up costs. The focus is not just on keeping children safe but preparing them for future academic success.”
▪ Maryland. Median household income, $98,000. Monthly child care spending, $673.42.
“Like in other high-income states, the demand for quality child care continues to outpace supply, creating rising costs for parents,” the report said.
MARRIAGE COUNSELORS GROUP ENDORSES PROPOSITION 3
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) last week formally endorsed Proposition 3 , the ballot measure to remove vestigial language from the California Constitution prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying.
Recall that marriage equality became the law of the land following the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges — but that didn’t remove the provision of the state constitution banning same-sex marriages that was put there by voters with 2008’s Proposition 8 .
Instead, that provision has lain dormant, prompting concerns from some California lawmakers that the conservative 6-3 majority SCOTUS could overturn the Obergefell decision, or even the 1967 Loving v. Virginia case that overturned state bans on interracial marriages.
It was those concerns that led lawmakers to put Prop. 3 on the ballot earlier this year.
Prop. 3 amends the state constitution “to recognize (the) fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race,” according to the California Secretary of State’s Office .
The 37,000-member CAMFT issued a statement last week stating, “Our patients deserve to live and thrive as their authentic selves, both personally and under the law — which means having full and equal access to civil rights, including the right to marry.”
The organization notes that “families come in many beautiful forms; as mental health professionals, we are committed to supporting and celebrating this diversity.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Californians are one step closer to getting the protections they need against Big Oil’s price spikes. I’m grateful to our partners in the Senate for helping to save Californians money at the pump. Price spikes cost consumers more than $2 billion last year, and we’re taking the action necessary to help put this to an end.”
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, responding to Friday’s Senate vote in favor of legislation to require oil refiners to maintain a minimum supply of fuel.
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