Republican State Comptroller nominee Joseph Hernandez today warned against a costly government takeover of New York’s childcare system after Governor Kathy Hochul pledged to do “whatever it takes” to fund Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s multibillion-dollar plan.
The state has already committed $1.2 billion to the program, while the full proposal could cost an estimated $9 billion annually. Meanwhile, New York faces $31.7 billion in projected budget deficits over the next three years.
The government's track record raises serious concerns. Childcare providers have already reported late and missing payments, forcing some to take out high-interest personal loans just to pay their employees.
“Locking a massive new fixed cost into a budget whose deficit is already growing faster than inflation is irresponsible and shortsighted,” Hernandez said. “Albany has not earned the benefit of the doubt. The government can't even pay its childcare providers on time, yet Hochul and Mamdani want to put it in charge of billions more. Before we ask taxpayers to foot the bill, every New Yorker should be asking if government should be in charge of our kids.”
“Every parent in New York knows childcare matters. Nobody disputes that. The question is how we pay for it and who it serves. Instead of building another permanent government program, we should put that money directly back into the pockets of working families through a childcare tax credit. Let parents choose the care that's right for their kids, not politicians in Albany or City Hall.”
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