Tag: Raising Travis County

Almost two years after Travis County residents raised their own taxes in pursuit of better childcare, the millions are starting to make a difference.

However, providers say there’s still a long way to go to fix a broken system.

Travis County voters approved a property tax increase in November 2024 that will generate about $75 million annually for after-school and summer programs and childcare. To date, the tax funded initiative, dubbed Raising Travis County, has allocated more than $51 million to expand early childhood education scholarships, childcare providers and out-of-school programming.

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Travis County is putting more money and seats behind afterschool care this fall, part of a push to close a shortage leaving many families without options.

Only 23% of the county’s priority-population students have access to a seat, and just 17% can get into a program that runs all five days, according to a new out-of-school time (OST) landscape analysis from the Andy Roddick Foundation, funded by Raising Travis County (RTC). More than 1,100 kids are waitlisted.

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Travis County is working with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the nonprofit that also manages the state’s affordable childcare list, to connect families with Raising Travis County scholarships.

Marjorie Vese Villafranco, a family services manager for Workforce Solutions, said the funding is coming at a crucial time for new parents.

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Travis County Commissioners on Tuesday approved millions in contracts that they said would expand childcare access in the county, with a particular focus on after-school and summer programs, as part of a funding initiative voters approved in 2024.

 The contracts with more than a dozen local nonprofits — including United Way for Greater Austin, Austin Sunshine Camps, Latinitas and the Greater Austin YMCA — collectively represent a $17.65 million investment in childcare across the county.

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Travis County commissioners voted Tuesday on more than $17 million in new contracts aimed at expanding childcare, after‑school programs and summer opportunities for families across the county.

The $17.65 million investment fund contracts with 13 community partners through the Raising Travis County initiative, which was approved by voters to increase access to affordable, high‑quality childcare and out‑of‑school time programs.

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Child care scholarships, after-school care and other efforts are underway to grow a voter-approved initiative to provide more affordable child care for low-income families in Travis County.

In 2024, voters approved increasing the county’s tax rate to generate $75 million for Raising Travis County. So far, the county has awarded more than $28 million to the Workforce Solutions Capital Area nonprofit as well as local school districts and other community organizations.

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