Gov. Dayton unveils proposal to expand tax credits for child care

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a proposal Tuesday to expand early childhood tax credits to as many as 92,000 new Minnesota families.

Under current law, a family must make less than $39,000 to be eligible. Dayton's proposal calls for raising the limit to $124,000 for a family with two or more children.

“Rising childcare costs have put hard financial strains on many Minnesota families, making it increasingly difficult for working parents to hold their jobs while assuring quality care for their children,” Gov. Dayton said in a news release. “My Child Care Tax Credit helps to provide Minnesota families with options – so they don’t have to choose between working and caring for their families.” 

The proposal would cost about $100 million over the next two years, according to Dayton's office. The average family would receive $481; an eligible family could receive a maximum tax credit of $2,100 per year. 

 Minnesota ranks as one of the least affordable states in the U.S. for child care, according to the organization Child Care Aware.

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(Cover photo: File / EasyStand / Creative Commons)