First Things First tells Apache Junction council childcare slots cover only ~40% of local need; urges advocacy

Apache Junction ' Representatives from First Things First delivered a data-driven briefing to the City Council on Nov. 15 showing a substantial gap in early childhood care and urging local advocacy.

Katrina Deveni, the Pinal regional director for First Things First, and Annette Lopez, community engagement staff, presented county and local figures and urged officials to support statewide advocacy. Deveni summarized the local supply as roughly 1,000 childcare slots for an estimated two-to-three thousand children ages birth through 5 in Apache Junction, representing an approximate 60% gap.

Deveni and Lopez highlighted affordability benchmarks: the federal standard cited in the presentation defines childcare as affordable if it consumes no more than 7% of a family's income. Using local median income figures presented to the council (transcript: roughly $60,000 annual median family income), the presenters said families in Apache Junction can be spending well over 18% of income on an infant in center-based care. The presentation cited an average county survey weekly cost range and an example median cost above $10,000 per year for an infant at a center.

Staff warned funding is at risk: the presenters said roughly 94.4% of First Things First funding comes from tobacco taxes and that changing market behavior (vaping and alternative tobacco products) has not been captured under the existing tax definition. The regional director said reserves could be exhausted by state fiscal year 2030 unless the funding definition is updated; the presentation described a proposed legislative change to expand the definition of tobacco to include newer products so tobacco-tax revenue will continue to support early childhood programs.

First Things First offered concrete ways the council and residents can help, including signing a board-approved resolution or letter of support, participating in advocacy training, using the RTS "request to speak" account for the legislature, and attending an early childhood day at the state capitol.

Council reaction and next steps Council members expressed support and gratitude for the briefing, with multiple members saying they backed the proposals and would follow up with staff. First Things First said it could provide a resolution or letter the council could adopt and offered to assist with outreach and advocacy.

What the council heard (key figures from the presentation) - Estimated childcare supply in Apache Junction: ~1,000 slots. - Estimated children birth–5 in Apache Junction: roughly mid-2,000s into 3,000s (presentation wording). - Estimated childcare gap: ~60%. - Median family income cited in presentation: approximately $60,000 per year (transcript statement). - Example cost cited for center-based infant care: a little over $10,000 per year.

Authorities referenced: First Things First program materials and regional council actions described in the presentation.