Some child care costs go up

From left, teacher Pamela Lopper, Daniel Mullens, teacher Debbie Hinton, Milan Garcia and Mackenna Naylor work on art projects at the child development center. Daniel, 5, is the son of Tech. Sgt. Valerie Mullens, 81st Communications Squadron, and Master Sgt. Stevwen Mullens, 85th Engineering Installation Squadron. Milan, 3, is the daughter of Hannah Garcia, 81st Dental Squadron, and Master Chief David Garcia from the Seabee Base in Gulfport. Mackenna, 3, is the daughter of Staff Sgt. Carrie and Justin Naylor, 2nd Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Some child care costs go up

Published July 15, 2009
By Senior Airman Kimberly Limrick
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Effective Aug 10, parents of children who attend the child development center or the youth center here may experience an increase in their weekly fees.

The Military Child Care Act of 1996 requires Department of Defense to annually prescribe fee ranges for military child development programs. The official guidance from Air Force states that DOD has not issued new fee ranges for CDC and school-age programs for fiscal year 09, and no changes until 2010 school year are anticipated by Air Education and Training Command.

However, Lt. Col. Richard Cole, 81st Force Support Squadron commander said, "We are allowed to increase fees in categories that are not yet at the DOD maximum allowable rate."

Parent fees are based on a family's total annual income which fall into one of six categories and apply to all children who attend a program on a regular basis for child care, including school-age programs and part-day preschool. The youth center school age program fees are based on prorating the CDC fees.

Categories I, II, and IV are all currently at the maximum allowable rate and won't increase. Fee increases will only affect those who fall into Categories III, V and VI. Category III will increase $1 per week, Category V will increase $4 per week and Category VI will increase $6 per week.

Changes to the hours of operation changes are also necessary and will adjust from the current 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. to 5:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

This fee increase and hour changes will reverse the current CDC year to date losses.