2 Counties Voted To Make Childcare More Affordable. Taxpayers Will Owe More, But It Takes A Cost Burden Off Parents.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI2 counties voted on property and sales tax hikes to fund childcare in their communities.Other localities have similar laws, with Alaska taxing marijuana sales to fund early childhood programs.We want to hear your thoughts on paying higher taxes to help fund childcare in your community.Cities and counties across the US are coming up with ways to make childcare more affordable — and many are turning to taxes.Three localities voted on November 5 to increase taxes to boost childcare funding for low-income and middle-class families.Voters in Sonoma County, California, imposed a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for childcare and early childhood education, as well as resources for children experiencing homelessness or abuse.Residents of Travis County, Texas — which includes Austin — voted to increase property taxes by 2.5-cents to broaden access to childcare for low-income families.Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a press statement that the property tax hike "will make a world of difference for thousands of families in our community struggling under the massive weight of childcare costs or waiting on an ever-growing waitlist for state subsidies." A similar measure in St.