Arlington child care enrollment at capacity; county and residents discuss funding as large SIP payment ends

Arlington Child Care is operating as a licensed facility with enrollment at capacity and a mix of city and private support, officials told the Gilliam County Court during public comment and an agenda update. Mark Moore, president of Arlington Child Care nd a local CTE educator, said the center—hanged from an in-home license to a facility-owned license to qualify for state funding and to provide continuity.

The discussion mattered to residents because the county will lose the large Strategic Investment Program (SIP) payment from Shepherd's Flat when that 15-year agreement ends in 2027, county staff warned. That SIP payment has been one of the largest single annual inflows to taxing districts and county programs; court staff said the project has generated more than $3 million in SIP distributions in the past and that the county will not know how the Department of Revenue will value the project when it becomes fully taxed.

Moore said Arlington Child Care ccepts infants through school-age children, operates roughly 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and that the facility—urrently holds a state license owned by the daycare organization rather than by an individual director. He said enrollment is generally "in the high teens" and that the state-rated capacity of the building at any one time is 18 children. Moore said the center receives a budgeted line item from the City of Arlington and recent private donations raised locally helped the center.

Residents raising questions in public comment asked how county revenue changes from the SIP program would affect property taxes and daycare funding. A county official explained that SIP agreements provide tax concessions for a limited period (15 years for Shepherd's Flat), after which the project is fully taxed and tax revenue is distributed to taxing districts including Gilliam County, the port, health district and fire and cemetery districts. The county cautioned there will be an interval of uncertainty while the Oregon Department of Revenue determines valuations when the SIP term ends.

Court members and childcare board representatives discussed planning for future building needs, noting the current building was originally donated. Court members said staff are discussing setting aside some portion of economic development hosting funds and are exploring potential quarterly coordination with childcare providers to identify needs and possible county support.

Moore said he and the daycare board want to keep communications open with county leaders and offered to appear quarterly for updates. Court members encouraged the center to apply for available grants and emphasized the county nd city have contributed to sustain the program.

Residents Penny Krebs and Peggy Gray voiced concern about transparency of funding sources and the eventual end of large SIP receipts in 2027; the county said public notification of the change would be published and that staff are discussing options this fall to manage the expected reduction in SIP-related funds.

The court did not take any formal action on childcare funding at the meeting; officials said the topic will be part of fall budget and policy discussions.