Maine lawmakers look for solutions to high cost of childcare in Maine
PORTLAND (WGME) – At the State House, lawmakers are working on finding affordable childcare in Maine.
A lawmaker wants to a create a stakeholder group to seek out solutions.
The group would include early childhood education and childcare providers, state agencies and members of the business community.
Under the bill, they would look at costs for parents and providers and explore potential state funding, tax credits and workforce incentives.
"Ultimately, what I think needs to happen is public and private investment,” Rep. Rebecca Jauch (D-Topsham) said. “For so long it's been left on parents and childcare providers to just figure it out, and it's an incredible stress for us."
Supporters of the bill say 10 percent of workers in Maine missed work for childcare reasons in 2021.
