(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)
Simplified: Sioux Falls' childcare crisis is well-documented, including noting that it costs more in one year to send your kid to a childcare center in Sioux Falls than it would to send them to a South Dakota state university. With that in mind, we asked Sioux Falls mayoral candidates their thoughts on the city's role in helping address these challenges.
Here's what we asked:
What role, if any, do you think the city should play in addressing the ongoing childcare crisis in Sioux Falls?
Here's how candidates responded (in reverse-alphabetical order):
David Zokaites said the underlying issue is income inequality, but there's not much a mayor can do about that. He also estimated it would take $50 million to cut childcare costs by half.
"That’s a big hunk of money, but it might be achievable if we could run city government better," Zokaites said. "Some of the fundamental changes would be legalized recreational cannabis – talk about a money-maker. Let's legalize recreational cannabis."
Jamie Smith said the first step is acknowledging that we do have a childcare crisis in Sioux Falls and that he sees investing in children as a proactive step in investing in the future – particularly when it comes to lowering crime in the future.
- Smith also suggested looking into a tri-share model, similar to what's been tested in Rapid City, in which businesses pay one-third of childcare costs, the city (or private donors) pay another third and the parents pay the remainder.
"We know there are people on the sidelines right now who want to work, but it just doesn't make any sense financially for them to do so," Smith said.
Greg Jamison indicated he's not a fan of subsidizing childcare, but that he could see a scenario where businesses do more. .
"It’s something we’ll have to try to figure out," he said. "Because there’s a spot here where you go, 'Why should the city tax dollars go toward babysitting your kids, how does that make sense?' and the opportunity is, it allows maybe people to go to work, and all that spins up."
Christine Erickson noted how expensive childcare is for young families, but also said after an extensive report, the city council ultimately decided it's not the role of city government to get involved.
- She also noted city support for some Southeast Technical College grants to support students studying early childhood education.
"I also know the federal government has some plans in there – we haven't seen the fruits of that labor yet," Erickson said. "And so I think, hopefully, that will start coming forward here soon and that we’ll be able to see some of that relief."
Joe Batcheller said if nothing else, the city should be facilitating discussions on addressing childcare needs. He also noted the studies have been done, and now it's time for some action and that childcare is an economic development issue.
- He also noted the potential for a tri-share model, but said, "we can't seem to get there right now."
"Let's make sure that we’re not encouraging people to retreat from the workforce because they want to have a family," Batcheller said. "We should make having a family as easy as possible. I think we need to pick up where the conversation has left off and start talking about what are actionable steps."
