The final budget for Fiscal Year 16 (FY 16) and Fiscal Year 17 (FY 17) softens Governor-proposed cuts to programs that effectively address the comprehensive needs of children and families, and even includes some increases in funding.
The final budget:
- Increases funding for School Readiness in Priority and Competitive School Districts by $1.77 million and $0.23 million, respectively, in order to increase rates for full-day, full-year programs. To fund this increase, the budget transfers $2 million from Care4Kids, which sees a concomitant decrease in funding in FY 16 and FY 17.
- Decreases net funding for Care4Kids services by $0.90 million in FY 16.
- Makes a small cut to Community Plans for Early Childhood ($0.70 million) and cuts Child Care Quality Enhancements by $0.15 million.
- Cuts funding for Help Me Grow, Family School Connection, and Family Empowerment Programs (components of the Children’s Trust Fund) by maintaining the Governor’s rescissions and imposing an additional 10% reduction to these programs.
