Child-care providers urge Perth Amboy council to press state to restore subsidy funding

Good evening. My name is Baltista. I'm a family childcare provider and I live at 727 Mary Street," said Baltista during public comment, describing how the state childcare assistance program’s application window closed last July and has left providers and families under strain.

Baltista and other providers said limited reopening of the subsidy has not reached many eligible families, forcing some centers to close and pushing parents out of the workforce. "There still are families that are excluded," Baltista said, adding that providers face mounting expenses and some centers have closed.

"The closure of the application for the child care subsidy has affected all of us including childcare centers, family childcare providers and families," said Moran, a family childcare provider who said she has worked in the field for four years. Moran described colleagues closing centers and parents leaving jobs because they cannot afford care.

Alexa Malach, an organizer with New Jersey Communities United, asked the council to consider a municipal resolution urging the state’s lawmakers and the governor to "fully fund and expand funding for the childcare subsidy in this year's budget." Malach identified her organization as statewide and said its membership includes childcare providers and families across New Jersey.

Council members acknowledged the issue and said information had been provided to the administration, which was "looking into it" and working with state contacts to explore options. A council member said the council would "look into" presenting a resolution but did not commit to a specific timeline.

Why this matters: local family childcare providers deliver care that enables parents to work; loss of subsidy eligibility can reduce available slots, force centers to close and increase economic stress on families. Providers at the meeting asked the council to act as an advocate to state officials and to keep the community informed of any local steps taken.

Next step: council members told speakers they would review the information submitted to the administration and consider whether to draft or sponsor a resolution calling on state officials to restore and expand subsidy funding.

Sources: Statements by Baltista (family childcare provider), Moran (family childcare provider) and Alexa Malach (New Jersey Communities United) during public comment at the Perth Amboy City Council meeting, Feb. 11, 2026.