funding

[LaWanda Albright]

copied from discussion on the website posted 1/5/11

I support an Amendment to the New Mexico constitution, creating an
Early Childhood Education Fund. In the time between approval to place
this amendment on the ballot, and the most likely election (Nov.
2012), all Early Childhood providers and advocates will need to fall
in line to determine a comprehensive and equitable way to distribute
the windfall we have been dreaming of for many years.
1/5/2011 9:29:12 On Gov. Richardson’s last day in office, he made the
decision to use the
last of his ARRA funding for child care slots. We had to jump thru
hoops
to get all forms and documentation required by the NMORR office
(believe
me! No easy task!!). Then we had to get the funds budgeted. All had to
be completed in one day. Yes! Believe it or not…..my amazing staff
made
it happen!!

What this means is now instead of being 5+ million short in the
current
fiscal year (FY2011), we are 2.4 million short. Yesterday, we revised
our
supplemental request to 2.4 million. The supplemental request asks for
the
consequence of not receiving this funding. We indicated that the child
care program would have to disenroll clients above 100% of the FPL
effective May 1, 2011 if we do not receive the 2.4 million in
supplemental
funding this coming legislative session (with the 5+ million
shortfall, we
were facing a March 1, 2011 disenrollment).

So folks, we are still facing disenrollment of clients this fiscal
year,
But….we are in better shape than we were a week ago!