Child Care Tax Credit Crosses The Legislative Finish Line

A bill that would give parents whose children are in child care a tax break was passed by the Legislature and heads to the governor’s desk. 

The Childcare Tax Credit Bill could give the average Mountain State family $265 off of their state income taxes.

To put that in perspective, it would offset 1-2 weeks of the cost of child care for one child.

Sen. Micheal Oliverio, R-Monongalia, said this tax credit is a small step in the right direction, but the legislature needs to do more to attract young families to the state and help those already here.

“We are among the oldest per capita states in the country, what we desperately need are young people here, young people with families will help us curb that demographic cliff that we’re looking at,” he said. “And so I just see that investment in child care as a way to help us get there.”

Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, who also voted for the bill and authored many child care bills during the regular session that never made it to the finish line. He said the state needs to do more, and could do more. 

“We’ve proven that time and time again, we’re spending $300,000 on some statutes for some unknown reason,” Woelfel said. “I mean, the money is there if somebody pushing the buttons thinks that’s a priority.”

Currently there is a lack of child care in the state with many families on waitlist, with 20,000 spots needed in the state.