Saint Paul voters will decide whether to approve a tax increase to help fund child care for families in need.

However, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said that even if voters approve it, his administration cannot and will not implement it.

Child care is a major expense for many families with young children. St. Paul City Councilwoman Rebecca Noecker has been leading the effort for a child care funding proposal that is on the ballot and in the hands of voters this election cycle.

“Create a dedicated local fund that will help thousands of St. Paul children pay for child care and early learning opportunities,” Noecker said.

The ballot question asks voters to “authorize” the city to impose property taxes to fund child care for needy families.

“The average impact on the average household is $16 more each year. So, $16 in the first year, $32, $48, and so on,” Noecker said.

Noecker said the need in the community is great.

“More than half of our children in St. Paul are under that $58,000 for a family of four,” Noecker said.

In a letter to the city council, Carter said he will not implement the tax increase if voters approve it. Calling the ballot question “misleading” and “functionally inoperable,” Carter explained that “there are no resources available to meet those commitments.”

Carter also pointed to the ballot question’s language to “authorize” a property tax increase and called it “advisory in nature.”

Carter also said equity is a concern since the funds allocated would only serve some families, and not others.

“This proposal would serve an average of only 404 children per year, at a total cost of $110 million in property tax increases. Considering that Saint Paul is home to more than 20,000 preschool children, this scope is a long way off.” of the implicit “The universality of the question being asked of voters,” Carter said.

Noecker acknowledges that this funding will not cover all eligible families, but believes it is a worthwhile investment.

“When children are zero to five years old, all that brain development is happening, all those connections are happening. It will help them learn and be successful for the rest of their lives.”

If this measure is approved, the city council said it is on Wednesday’s agenda to discuss acceptance of the program plan.

More information here.