Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Care topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves phased opening for county employee child care center and asks staff to study TriShare options
Summary
The board approved a phased enrollment opening (50% / 67 spaces) for the county employee child care center and directed staff to explore implementing the TriShare cost‑share program and other subsidy options, seeking cost and operational details to return at a later meeting.
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on June 11 voted to approve a phased opening for the county employee child care center, authorizing enrollment of 50 percent capacity (67 spaces) for employees of governmental agencies. Assistant County Manager Faith Phillips presented operational and budget details and summarized a TriShare cost‑share program administered in North Carolina.
Phillips said the county paid utilities and some one‑time opening costs for FY26 and reported the center’s FY26 operating charges were roughly $56,390 for the county’s share of utilities and maintenance. She walked commissioners through an example TriShare calculation for an infant slot with a monthly rate of $971: "Each share—the employer, the employee and the state—would be about $327 plus the 9 percent administrative fee," Phillips said, noting the employee portion would be roughly $4,233 annually in that example.
Commissioners debated eligibility ordering and whether first responders should be prioritized. Vice Chair Jones, Commissioner Adams and others requested staff explore alternatives such as a county subsidy for employees across the board (rather than TriShare) and examine TriShare operational details (who enrolls, employer obligations, open enrollment timing). Staff reported Moore County administers a TriShare program but has not had counties enroll as employers yet and that the program limits eligibility to employees at 185–300 percent of the federal poverty level.
The motion to open the center in a phased manner was moved and seconded and approved by the board. The board also asked staff to return with additional information, including a cost estimate for implementing TriShare or a county subsidy, audit options for staff eligibility, and potential partnership with Smart Start to identify operational models and cost impacts.
What this means: the county is taking an incremental approach—opening slots while staff researches a sustainable funding approach if the board chooses to subsidize or adopt TriShare. Staff will bring back concrete cost estimates before any decision to fund a TriShare buy‑in or other subsidy.
