San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Approves $10 Million Investment in Child Care

Redwood City - The San Mateo Board of Supervisors yesterday unanimously approved a resolution, sponsored by Supervisors Jackie Speier and Lisa Gauthier, dedicating $10 million in funding for two child care pilots. The first pilot is a one-stop portal that will allow parents to easily find providers, apply, and assess subsidy eligibility. The second pilot is a Tri-Share program that is a partnership among the County, employers, and parents. It's designed for working families making above the subsidy threshold, but not enough to afford child care.

"I am so excited and proud that San Mateo County is making a firm statement with this substantial investment: children count," Sup. Speier said. "Lack of affordable, accessible child care is hurting San Mateo County in ways we can no longer ignore. Working families are being crushed by costs that can easily exceed $30,000 a year per child. Providers are struggling to connect with families due to fragmented, inefficient systems. And businesses are losing their workforce as the cost of care begins to outweigh the value of wages. These two pilot programs will help counter an estimated $775 million loss in productivity a year and help more than 1,000 families reduce their child care cost."

"This initiative is a direct response to what we have consistently heard from our community," Sup. Gauthier said. "Families want quality childcare that is accessible, affordable, and meets their needs. By making it easier to find care and helping working families manage the cost, we are creating opportunities for parents to thrive, children to succeed, and our communities to remain strong."

"Affordable child care is essential infrastructure for a thriving community," County Executive Mike Callagy said. "These pilot programs will help families navigate a complex system, reduce financial burdens on working parents, and strengthen our local economy. I appreciate the Board's leadership in advancing solutions that support children, families, providers, and employers across San Mateo County."

Sup. Speier pointed out that neighboring counties have already made investments in child care and that it is time for San Mateo County to catch up. San Francisco passed a commercial rent tax in 2018 raising about $146 million a year. Alameda County passed a half-cent sales tax in 2020 raising about $150 million year. Sonoma County passed a quarter-cent sales tax in 2024 raising about $30 million a year. Santa Clara County received $20 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) child care funding in 2023 and used it as a one-time allocation. And Santa Cruz passed a two-cent sales tax on sugary drinks that raises about $1.3 million a year.

Leading up to the vote on June 9, Supervisor Speier and Gauthier held four town halls across the county to hear from parents and providers. The County Executive's Office started with a Request for Information to survey the landscape of available solutions, followed by a competitive Request for Proposals, evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts. They engaged with child care stakeholders, providers, and community partners to ensure the programs were designed to meet the real needs of San Mateo County families. Ultimately, staff recommended the tech company Tootris to administer both programs. The portal is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2026 and Tri-Share in January 2027.

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Katrina Rill (650) 380-1951

[email protected]