Guest AuthorWith four children at home, I know a thing or two about how to have fun. That is why I started an amusement rental business. We cater to the pint-sized crowd and bring fun bounce houses to birthday parties and events across the state. Birthday parties are great memories for children but they do not come without stress for parents living paycheck to paycheck. Finding room for gifts and parties in the budget is hard, and our state isn’t doing enough to help parents get by.
The Alliance for a Just Society recently released a report, called “Rigged to Fail,” that examines state policies in Florida and how they are failing to support working families like mine. Without strong policies and supportive legislation, our state is failing workers. While the largest corporations are receiving tax breaks, subsidies and incentives, my family is skipped over when tax credits are given. With four children in day care, a child and dependent care tax credit would mean the world to my family and would help set us up for success, rather than failure.
It is a basic value that if you work full-time you are able to support yourself and your family – but that’s not the case for too many workers in our state. My business was created for children, but it depends on parents being able to afford my services. Putting extra money in parents’ pockets through child and dependent care tax credits means my business is in a better position to succeed.
Child care costs are rising while wages remain nearly stagnant. The 12 cent increase in Florida’s minimum wages equates to less than $1 a day for full time workers and does little to help manage the costs of inflation. With wages too low to cover expenses and state programs falling short of providing the assistance we need, families like mine are forced to choose between going to work or staying home with our children.
Supports should be strengthened, not cut, to ensure that workers and their families have the necessary tools they need to thrive. Florida should join 22 other states that have provided relief to parents this tax season and issue child and dependent care tax credits. States from Arkansas to California have put policies in place that help parents cover the cost of child care. It’s time for our state to make economy-boosting investments in parents and set families up for success.
Calvin Fondeur is owner of Latino Bouncy Castles and a member of the Main Street Alliance of Florida. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
