New Hanover budget includes funding for child care

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The budget New Hanover County commissioners passed yesterday included some controversial items, including child care subsidies.

The county is spending more than $400,000 to send an extra 100 children to child care for little to no cost. The money supplements funding put in by other agencies and helps low income families or children in need afford day care.

“One of our objectives is to have 80 percent of the children entering kindergarten be prepared for kindergarten and the child care will help those children become ready for kindergarten,” said Cam Griffin, the county’s budget director.

Commissioner Woody White wanted to remove the subsidy from the budget because of the cost. In fact, the cost was reduced from $673,000 to $448,000.  In the end, White was out voted on the budget 3-2.