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United Way and local coalition propose three‑cent Dallas County property‑tax ballot item to expand child care
Summary
United Way and allied organizations proposed a county child‑care fund that would raise an estimated $132 million a year from a three‑cent property‑tax increase to expand scholarships, stabilize providers and expand supply; commissioners welcomed the analysis but warned statutory tax 'triggers' and asked for implementation and fiscal detail.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and a coalition of early‑education advocates presented a proposed Dallas County ballot initiative that would create a locally governed child‑care fund financed by a three‑cent property‑tax rate increase, the presenters said would generate about $132 million annually for scholarships, provider stability and expanded infant/toddler capacity.
"When families can access affordable, high‑quality child care, parents are better able to enter the workforce, remain employed, and increase their earnings over time," Hillary Evans, vice president of policy and advocacy at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, told the court. Evans said roughly 83% of eligible Dallas County children currently lack access to the assistance they need and more than 9,000 children are on the existing scholarship wait list.
Melanie Rubin of the North Texas Early Education Alliance described a three‑part framework: layered scholarships accessed through a unified portal (with income‑scaled co‑pays), targeted support to stabilize providers (including wages and quality investments), and expanded nontraditional‑hour and after‑school care. The plan, Rubin said, would use competitively procured third‑party administrators, upfront eligibility verification and independent evaluation, with county oversight but not direct county administration.
The coalition said the fund would prioritize work‑willing families and infants and toddlers where access and costs are most acute; the majority of funds would be restricted to scholarships serving an estimated 10,000 children, they said. Jeff Kitner, president and CEO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, framed the proposal as a workforce and competitiveness measure for Dallas County employers.
Commissioners expressed support for the goals but pressed on triggers and feasibility. "We don't get a chance to do what we want," one commissioner said, noting statutory constraints and the county’s fiscal responsibilities. Staff explained that to place a new tax measure on the ballot the county first must exceed a 3.5% property‑tax rate threshold (a fiscal trigger discussed as part of the ballot‑placement mechanics), and speakers warned that state constraints on county taxing authority complicate any timeline.
Public testimony included child‑care providers, parents who credited scholarships with improved employment outcomes, and faith leaders who outlined local scholarship efforts. Providers urged the court to prioritize sustainability and to coordinate with state and federal resources so local funds amplify rather than duplicate other investments.
Commissioners asked for an implementation plan, procurement and oversight details, projected timelines and the legal steps needed to place a measure before voters. Presenters said they would provide implementation worksheets, model comparisons (including Denver and Travis County) and a detailed RFP timeline so the county could be ready to disburse funds in 2027 if voters approve the measure.
