Dear Friends:

Today, the County Board of Legislators met to vote on County Executive Astorino's line item vetoes of their budget.

Thanks to your advocacy over the last several months, almost all of the priority items for children and youth were restored to the budget by the required 2/3 majority vote of the Legislators, including:

• Roll-back on the parent share for families receiving child care subsidies from the proposed 33% back to 15%
• Lifting the cap of Title XX child care subsidies (for those above the poverty level)
• Restoration of Invest-in-Kids funding to the full 2010 level ($2,234,399)
• Funding for Early Step Forward ($490,000)
• Restoration of county funding for Neighborhood Health Centers

Unfortunately, the Child Care Scholarship fund (for families of moderate incomes) failed to be restored to the budget by one vote.

Although the results are not 100% of what we hoped for, they are a vast improvement over the cuts proposed by County Executive Rob Astorino.  We thank the Board of Legislators for these restorations and we thank you for your continued advocacy and support!

Best wishes from WCA for a Happy and Healthy New Year for you and for all of our children!