Capitol dispute slows aid checks to child care providers

The Associated Press ^ | February 10, 2022 | By STEPHEN GROVES

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — When day care owner Heidi Fink checked her email Thursday morning, she was shocked to find a message from South Dakota’s Department of Social Services informing her that the facility was receiving a $217,000 grant.

The award for Blue Dragons Academy childcare in Garretson was part of Gov. Kristi Noem’s $100 million plan to send federal money received under the American Rescue Plan Act to child care centers. The money — which was more than triple what she was expecting — would be used for bonuses and raises for her employees, as well as supplies.

Fink said the boost in pay was well-deserved for staff that “worked all through COVID and got very little in return.”

Growing demand for child care and the stresses on providers during the pandemic has placed those child care centers licensed by the state among the list of recipients of over $1 billion in federal funds lawmakers are deciding how to spend this year.

[libertylover]

The money — which was more than triple what she was expecting — would be used for bonuses and raises for her employees,

Hmmmmmmm.

[tallyhoe]

That is not Conservative Governor!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

… more than triple what she was expecting

Inflation? What inflation? Free money for all. It comes from “Obama’s stash.”

[Zathras]

“Women and Minorities hardest hit”
They need to get their talking points correct.

[DoughtyOne]

I always love how the feds send in money to boost salaries.

It never dawns on them who has to pay those elevated salaries
after the fed funds run dry.

[Svartalfiar]

Fink said the boost in pay was well-deserved for staff that “worked all through COVID and got very little in return.”

Ok, so her 20 employees got a 1000 a month raise. What happens to this raise in 10 months? Is she going to keep paying them the new inflated amount (and whine to the governor that she needs more bailout cash)? Or will she drop the employees back to their old rates, in which case they'll likely quit because they're now getting so underpaid?