United Way urges Buellton council to fund and loosen zoning for child care

United Way of Santa Barbara County asked the Buellton City Council on April 10 to help expand child-care capacity and affordability by creating a dedicated local revenue source and by changing land-use rules that local United Way staff and providers say slow new centers from opening.

The Brighter Futures Child Care Initiative presentation documented a countywide shortage of licensed child‑care slots and asked the council to consider both money and zoning changes. "We do have a scholarship program that provides financial relief to families in that income bracket," Rose Levy of United Way told the council, adding, "To date, we have awarded over $71,000 in scholarships for 16 children across the county, and 25% of those children were here in Buellton." United Way representative Steve Ortiz framed the issue as tied to education, workforce participation and community resiliency.

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