Opinon: Children are our future and we need to make policy decisions that will benefit them.

Every new parent in Tahoe knows that finding quality childcare is a struggle. Facilities have long waiting lists; and only a few can offer State subsidies to low-income families.

According to Choices for Children a healthy childcare vacancy rate is 15%. That gives parents choice in where to put their child based on location, costs or personal preferences. Here in Tahoe our vacancy rate is just 5% and as our population continues to grow that percentage is likely to decrease further.

Many existing facilities would like to expand their business, serve more families and employ more staff, but are prevented by the high costs of building or renovating properties here in the Basin. Others who would wish to open facilities in residential neighborhoods find that they are prevented by their neighbors. The current lack of suitable buildings for childcare facilities is highlighted by the fact that seven different programs share space in the old Al Tahoe School. We need to reduce the costs of Business Licenses for essential services such as childcare, and provide discounts or grants to help childcare businesses meet the high costs of building and renovating in the Basin.

And the problem doesn’t end when your child reaches school age. Currently the Boys and Girls Club provides after-school and vacation programs to over 300 children each day. At just $100 for the school year, the Club estimates that it saves families over $8000 a year in childcare costs. But the Boys and Girls Club is also in the Al Tahoe building and if California Proposition 51 passes in November then Al Tahoe will be reopened as an elementary school as early as fall 2017.

So the race is on to find a new home for the Boys and Girls. One solution on the table is for the Club to share space in the renovated Rec. Center, but for that to happen then the citizens of South Lake will need to pass Measure P on November 8th. Measure P will increase tourist occupancy tax by 2%, bring an additional $2 million in revenue each year that will be reserved for recreation. If passed, the first action will be to rebuild the existing Rec. Center and turn it into a state of the art facility that can house community events and also accommodate the Boys and Girls Club. All current members of the City Council are supportive of providing a home for the Club, and of the current candidates all have spoken in favor of Measure P, with Jason Collin and Brooke Laine actively supporting the inclusion of the Boys and Girls Club in the plan.

Should Measure P fail, then the Club currently has no leads on other facilities that would meet their needs, and should the Club be forced to close then the childcare situation in Tahoe would be very serious indeed.

Jude Wood, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club