Marin County voters in the early returns from Tuesday’s election were narrowly favoring Measure P, which would establish a 15-year parcel tax expected to generate about $12.5 million annually for childcare and early childhood education programs.
Shortly after the polls closed, the yes vote totaled 30,000 or 53% approval. Measure P, or the Marin County Child Care Initiative, requires a simple majority to pass.
Circulation for the ballot petition was paid for by a political action committee called Our Kids Our Future. Major funders include the Marin Community Foundation, the Children’s Funding Accelerator, and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
“Ten years ago, we tried to get this over the finish line unsuccessfully, and now people recognize that the need for childcare is urgent,” said Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters on election night. “I know there are people working at the County of Marin that will benefit directly, as well as the families in the broader workforce.”
The average cost of licensed childcare in Marin County is about $2,315 a month, 24% higher than the California statewide average, according to the measure. Fifty-two percent of children ages 0 to 12 with working parents have no access to preschools at all, and the number of licensed providers is declining.
“Ten years ago, we tried to get this over the finish line unsuccessfully, and now people recognize that the need for childcare is urgent.”
Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters
Childcare providers who do have jobs do not earn enough to live in Marin County, where the median household income is about $147,000, according to the U.S. Census.
The tax will be based on building area rather than property value. Property owners will pay 5 cents per square foot of building area, up to 100,000 square feet. A 2,000-square-foot home will pay about $100 annually.
Revenue will go into a special county fund and support sliding-scale tuition scholarships based on families’ ability to pay, childcare facility improvements, and training and compensation for providers. Priority will go to families with limited resources, including those experiencing housing insecurity.
If the measure passes, the Marin County Children and Families Commission, also known as First 5 Marin, would administer the programs. They would start by developing a five-year spending plan and budget. An 11-member Child Care Community Advisory Council would recommend funding priorities, and annual funding would need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Administrative expenses will be capped at 5% of annual revenue, and the fund will undergo annual independent financial audits.
Opponents questioned the measure’s 15-year commitment, lack of income-based tax exemptions and absence of a requirement that beneficiaries live in Marin County. They also argued that spending rules and performance measures were insufficient.
The tax, if approved, will take effect July 1 of the first full fiscal year after the measure takes effect.
