First 5 Mono lays out 2025–29 plan and flags shrinking state funds as childcare gaps persist

First 5 Mono unveiled a new strategic plan for 2025–29 on Tuesday and told the Mono County Board of Supervisors the commission will prioritize home visiting, quality supports for early‑care providers and school‑readiness programs while warning that state funding from Proposition 10 has declined substantially.

The plan maps discretionary investments for the next five years — with about 41% proposed for home visiting and 26% for operations and evaluation — and reduces tracked performance indicators from 20 to 12 to sharpen measurement.

Why it matters: First 5 is the county’s primary early‑childhood coordinating body. Commissioners and county education officials said state and federal funding trends will make local coordination and targeted investments critical to keep preschools and infant–toddler care afloat.

The planning process included community focus groups and written comments; the resulting strategy lists childcare as a persistent unmet need countywide. Tammy Nguyen, Mono County Superintendent of Schools, told the board the office is working with local providers, the Child Care Council and county staff to rebuild preschool capacity in Lee Vining and Bridgeport and to expand infant/toddler slots where possible.

Nguyen and First 5 representatives described practical obstacles: licensing and staffing limits, strict state funding rules for state preschool (CSPP) that require income‑qualified enrollment ahead of admitting fee‑paying children, and the time lag between CDBG or other grants being awarded and services starting. She said Bridgeport’s preschool remains possible but that CDBG timing and provider staffing have been recurring barriers.

First 5’s draft fiscal allocation includes a small scholarship model, funds for the county’s childcare quality system and an emergency reserve. Molly Devaye (First 5 Mono) warned the board that First 5 California revenues — derived from tobacco taxes under Proposition 10 — have steadily fallen and that the state commission is reformulating county support, creating uncertainty for future county investments.

Local providers, parents and nonprofit partners urged action. A June Lake daycare operator described starting a rural in‑home program only after nonprofit seed support, and Little Loopers (a June Lake nonprofit) urged sustained hours that support working parents. A Lee Vining teacher said reopening the Lee Vining preschool with hours that fit working families is critical to enable teachers and other parents to work.

What county officials asked for: Supervisors asked staff and First 5 to return with clearer budget line items for county general‑fund support, and for the Child Care Council to continue outreach. The board approved a discretionary appointment to the Mono County Child Care Council, adding Brooke Bien to the council (motion passed 5–0).

Looking ahead: First 5 and the county office of education said they will continue to pursue CDBG and state grant opportunities and to coordinate with the town, Mammoth providers and other partners to phase in capacity increases. They also recommended a deeper county review of the relative funding impact of home‑visiting vs. slot subsidies — an item county supervisors asked staff to return with during upcoming budget discussions.

Ending: First 5’s plan sets clear priorities, but both county and First 5 officials said the strategy’s success depends on securing alternate local and state funding as Proposition 10 income declines.