Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution accepts the recommendations of the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee for funding Early Childhood programs in 2024. The resolution allocates available funds among seven community-based non-profit organizations to fund eight programs chosen through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process initiated by the Community Development Division in July 2023. The resolution presents the Committee’s recommendations under two scenarios - the first in which available funding is unchanged in 2024 from current levels ($510,000), and the second in which funding for 2024 is increased by 7.5% ($548,250).
Allocation to the Community Development Division budget and disbursement of the funds to the listed organizations are contingent upon adoption of the 2024 Operating Budget. No additional appropriation required in 2023.
Title
Approving the recommendations of the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee regarding the allocation of City funds, for use beginning in 2024, for Early Childhood programs.
Body
The proposed resolution approves the allocation of City funds for contracts with seven community-based non-profit organizations recommended by the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee (ECCEC) for the provision of eight Early Childhood programs as part of a competitive RFP process.
Funding for these contracts is dependent upon the authorization of necessary funds in the City’s 2024 Operating Budget.
The Community Development Division (CDD) of the City of Madison seeks to support an environment in which Madison residents can access high-quality early care and learning environments, child care providers have the tools to support the healthy development of young children, and children receive care from culturally responsive providers.
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has a long-standing commitment of financial and technical support for programs that offer the care and resources needed to support positive child development including the many facets of physical and mental health, social-emotional learning, cognitive development and strong relationships with family and the community; and,
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2023, the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee (ECCEC) approved the guidelines for an RFP process which established the program structures, effective practices, cost estimates and a program continuum for early childhood care and education programs, for which the City will offer financial support; and,
WHEREAS, on July 10, 2023, CDD released an RFP, soliciting proposals for Early Childhood Programs, with an application due date of August 16, 2023, and received proposals from 12 organizations requesting, in aggregate, more than $2 million; and,
WHEREAS, CDD staff reviewed those proposals and formulated recommendations to the ECCEC regarding the allocation of available funds based on their alignment with the standards laid out in the “Early Childhood Care and Education 2023 Concept Paper”; and,
WHEREAS, while the City’s 2023 Adopted Operating Budget includes $510,000 to support ongoing Early Childhood programs, preliminary decisions made as part of the ongoing 2024 budget process suggest that funding for Early Childhood programs may be increased by 7.5%, to $548,250
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council approves the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee’s recommendations regarding the allocation of $510,00 currently authorized for Early Childhood programming, as set forth in the attached spreadsheet; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council approves the Committee’s recommended modifications to those allocations, as specified in the spreadsheet, in the event the 2024 Adopted Operating Budget increases authorized funding for Early Childhood programming by 7.5%; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that, upon final adoption of the City’s 2024 Operating Budget, the Council authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk, on behalf of the City, to enter into contracts, to take effect on January 1, 2024, with the specified agencies and in the specified amounts, to accomplish the purposes set forth in this resolution.