It's the last day of the school year for some youngsters enrolled in the local "Early Learning Initiative" program as part of "MYCAP" -- the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership, but with lawmakers struggling over Ohio's next two-year budget, funding for this and other public daycare programs could be cut.
It would mean some of the children, whose families fall under federal poverty guidelines, might not be here next year. Local Head Start Director Lois Clark says if those working parents can't find affordable child care, "it's gonna be very difficult for them."
Directors say while funding has been decreasing over the years, this is the worst they've ever seen.
State Representative Ron Gerberry of Austintown says lawmakers are still trying to close a $912 million shortfall in the current budget which runs through June 30. Because of the recession, revenues from sales, income and business taxes are all down, and Gerberry tells us there are no plans to raise taxes to make up the difference in the next bi-ennium. He says, "That means that we're going to have a difficult time getting a budget anyone will be happy with."
Gerberry says at this point, lawmakers will most likely use the state's rainy day fund to balance this year's budget, but that may not leave much for next year. He also adds were it not for the eight-billion dollars or so the state received as part of President Obama's economic stimulus package, the situation would be even worse.
He says many in Columbus are hoping predictions of an economic turnaround late this summer will be correct -- to get the budget back on track.
