An estimated 20,000 families are navigating this city’s child care crisis, while 6,000 children live in poverty without access to child care. City Prop B will create a permanent $22 million fund to make child care affordable for working families, pay educators living wages and improve program quality.
City Prop B gives children ages 5 and younger the best start possible and begins a more dignified relationship with the majority-women workforce that cares for them daily.
Understanding the child care system
In a state without paid family leave, the need for access to quality, affordable care begins at birth.
The national standard for affordable care is up to 7% of household income. For context, the median household income for St. Louis city families with children younger than 5 is $52,941. That means affordable care would cost no more than $3,706 per year. However, the average cost of full-day care is $13,622, making care unaffordable for many.
Quality child care also depends on its workforce. In Missouri, 93% of child care educators are women, and their median hourly wage is $11.71. Forty-one percent participate in a public safety net program. Moreover, 39% of Black educators work in low-wage programs.
To achieve affordability and quality, mixed delivery is essential and common across the country, from Oklahoma to New York City.
Emmy Liss, New York City’s child care director, and Sarah Gilliland wrote in a New America report, “Mixed delivery models are state- and locally funded early childhood programs in which multiple types of entities deliver services.”
These entities range from public schools and private centers to Head Start and licensed family child care, providing care from birth. Traditional public schools do not offer care from birth, and it would be an unfair burden for them to carry the entire child care system.
Understanding City Prop B
City Prop B is a half-cent sales tax designed to address the complexity of St. Louis’ child care system and its governmental structures. It is the city’s only viable revenue stream.
What to fund. Prop B is designed to fund two programs across a mixed-delivery model ranging from public schools to eligible community-based child care providers. The first would provide local subsidies “prioritizing children in financial need” ages 5 and younger, on a sliding scale based on household income. The second would provide grants to child care programs to improve educator wages, benefits and the quality of their programming.
The board must regularly conduct “evaluations of program effectiveness, quality, and access outcomes,” which must be made public.
Governance. In alignment with the city’s many boards and commissions, a board of city residents who cannot have any financial interest in the fund must be appointed by the mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen.
Transparency. The board must publish a detailed annual report, including a breakdown of financial expenditures, subject to an independent audit.
The time is now
I’ve heard too many times: “Wait.” “There are more urgent matters.” “This policy isn’t perfect.” “This isn’t our city’s responsibility.”
On Nov. 6, 2025, after being on the front lines during the pandemic and then during tornado response, our matriarch, child care provider and leader, Adrienne Pennington, passed away, reminding us that the system cannot sustain itself through the exploitation of Black women.
City Prop B is our call to action to honor both the ancestors who fought for us and the babies who deserve a better future.
Every morning, I hear Dr. King reminding us, “This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’”
I’m done waiting, and I hope you are too. Vote yes on City Prop B.
Charli Cooksey is founder and CEO of WEPOWER.