AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dozens of parents, child care providers and employees rallied on the Texas Capitol steps Monday, taking the day off, hoping to get through to lawmakers.

“Dairy Queen workers make more than child care workers,” Cherlita Robertson, a childcare center director said.

On the day of a national movement called, “A Day Without Childcare,” the group is asking for better funding in order to make child care more affordable, and to improve employee wages.

“It’s $1,500 alone a month just for [my son,] Patricia Tobar, a mother said. “I can’t pay that that’s half of more than half of my check.”

This movement comes as Travis County is set to discuss the proposed tax rate election for the 2025 Tax Year. Commissioners will look at how the county can give more people access to early childhood care and afterschool/summer services, according to the May 14 agenda. It’s a 2-and-a-half cent tax raise to help fund a new $75 million program.

“We’re going to help aid that over 8,000 families get assistance in some way of either child care after school assistance,” Brown said.

Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Precinct One Commissioner Jeff Travillion are leading this conversation.

“Kids who are in programs are not my kids who are in trouble,” Travillion said. “They have guidance, they have structure.”

If approved by voters, it would cost the average household about $10 more a month.
Brown and Travillion hope it would benefit child care providers pay staff more too.