High cost of child care is taxing for Long Islanders
According to the Economic Policy Institute, New York State is the 15th most expensive state for infant care.
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It may not be a tax, but Long Island parents know all too well how the high cost of child care can be taxing on their family finances.
It has forced Daphne Baptiste to make some difficult choices.
"I found myself really struggling at times figuring out if I was going to pay my rent this month or if I was I going to pay the child care," she said.
Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk Jennifer Rojas says infant care on Long Island can cost as much as $24,000 a year for one child.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, New York State is the 15th most expensive state for infant care.
To make things even more stressful, Rojas says availability is also a problem on the island.
"The workforce is not being paid sufficiently so there is an availability issue because programs are closing classrooms because they don't have enough staff," she said.
There is some relief for child care costs provided by the state. The Child Care Assistance Program can cover some or all of the cost depending on your income.
"It serves families, a family of four earning up to $104,000 a year if you're working, so it's a great program that covers the majority of costs of child care," said Rojas.
Rojas says starting June 1, the income threshold will go up to $113,000 a year for a family of four.
Frances Monsanto, of West Babylon, is a single parent and says she relies on the state assistance program to be able to send her kids to day care.
"It's a tremendous help," she said.
Families could also get some relief from the state budget which proposes an expanded child tax credit that would help an estimated 355,000 Long Island children.
For more information about the Child Care Assistance Program, you can visit Office of Children and Family Services.
