HOUSTON – Many childcare centers struggled to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now Harris County is hoping to give those centers some much-needed relief.
The county unanimously passed the 100% property tax exemption for qualifying childcare facilities in March. The deadline to apply, however, is Tuesday, April 30 by 5 p.m.
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The property tax exemptions are expected to save the average Harris County childcare provider around $3,000 per year in property taxes, with no fiscal impact to the county.
It applies to owners or operators of child care facilities that participate in the Texas Rising Star program.
Additionally, at least 20% of the children enrolled at a facility must have their childcare services subsidized through the Texas Workforce Commission.
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Judge Lina Hidalgo says 327 facilities are eligible, but as of Monday, only 109 had applied. That includes Cradles 2 Crayons Early Learning Academy.
“During this, what we call after Covid so many years later, that we’re still trying to pivot and to figure out ways to be creative in retaining staff,” Deon Davis says. “So we’ll you use a nice chunk of it for that. And, you know, also just enhancements and doing things around the center. So any little you know that we can save we’re grateful for it.”
They say the application takes only 15 minutes online to fill out, which you can find by clicking here.