ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – St. Paul voters decided the fate of a daycare tax a levy that supporters said would have helped fund child care for needy families, but opponents said it would not be financially sustainable in the long term – ultimately rejecting the idea as it was presented to them proposed during the 2024 general election bulletin.

Voting results

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State election results, the ballot measure was rejected with 59.94% of the votes, or 77,064 residents voting “no”.

In total, 51,501 votes, or 40.06%, were in favor of the measure.

Background

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter previously said that even if voters approved it, his administration would not implement the program.

LEARN MORE: St. Paul City Council moves forward with free child care initiative, despite mayor’s veto

In August 2023, the St. Paul City Council voted in favor of a ballot measure to be put before voters that would ultimately provide approximately $20 million to fund free child care for children whose families earn less than 185% of the federal poverty level, or approximately $55,500. annually.

Carter vetoed the proposal, saying he had “no other choice” after his team looked at the numbers and he couldn’t make sense of the finances.

Although no financial analysis has been done, Carter said the total cost would approach a minimum of $111 million a year — $81 million to fully fund child care for families below the poverty line , $20 million to partially fund child care for families earning more and $10 million to fund child care for families living below the poverty line. million for administrative costs.

The City Council then voted 5-2 to override Carter’s veto and put the issue before voters next November.

In September, the St. Paul Federation of Educators – which represents thousands of teachers around the world St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) – said their union members do not support the measuresaying at the time, “would require St. Paul taxpayers to fund yet another voucher program, thereby shifting more public dollars to private, for-profit child care providers, without any plan” .

When asked how he voted in a child care referendum in St. Paul, Governor Tim Walz did not respond directly except to say he followed the advice of St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.