Aug 28, 2008 5:19 pm US/Pacific
Local Daycares On Verge Of Turning Kids Away
GRASS VALLEY (CBS13) ―
Daycare providers are on the verge of turning children away because lawmakers can't strike a deal. In Nevada City dozens of small business owners haven't qualified for loans and are fighting to keep their doors open.
Polly's Daycare in Grass Valley has been in business for 10 years, and every year they prepare for a late budget. But the owner says this year is the worst, and now they're struggling to make ends meet.
"To turn these kids away, to turn these families away, it breaks your heart," says owner, Amber Frey.
Amber says she's willing to take a second job to make sure these kids are cared for, and unfortunately, she may have to.
"Without this funding you can only go on for so long," she says.
Their check from the state is late, and in the past, the local Children Services Group pitched in by securing a loan. But this year, the non-profit didn't qualify.
"You still gotta go buy the food; you gotta pay the rent, the electric. It's everything," says Amber.
The owner is dipping into her husband's retirement fund to keep the doors open for now. But she's even more worried about her fellow providers who don't have that safety net, and hard-working parents who depend on them.
It's a concern that Amber doesn't feel lawmakers take seriously.
"They're in vacation right now in Colorado drinking martinis and waving American flags around, for what?" Amber asks.
Unfortunately, Polly's Daycare isn't the only one struggling in this county. Officials say up to 200 providers aren't getting paid, and are struggling to keep their doors open.
A child care advocate tells CBS13 this is a concern across the state. She also says that many of these small business owners are taking out personal loans, taping their savings and even facing foreclosure to keep their doors open.
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