Council Seeks to Increase Cost Recovery for Child Care

Beaumont City Council has asked Administration for a plan to increase cost recovery for Early Learning Child Care and the School Age Site to maintain the programs.

Council made the decision Tuesday after considering a report looking at factors such as the cost to the City and the number of child care providers in Beaumont.

“Following extensive review, Council determined that the ELCC and SAS programs are highly valued and still serve a need in Beaumont,” said Mayor Lisa Vanderkwaak. “There are opportunities to make the programs more self-sufficient and avoid any disruption of services to families.”

Council initiated the review in December 2025 as part of an overall look at services provided by the City.

The program is currently mandated to recover 80 per cent of direct costs, such as employee wages. In 2025, the program operated at recovery of 90 per cent of direct costs and 83 per cent of indirect costs.

On Tuesday, Council approved a motion to more clearly define indirect costs for child care, such as IT, human resources, and accounting support; include them in the calculation for cost recovery; and increase recovery to 88 per cent of indirect costs with the 2027 budget. Council also requested a report on how the cost recovery could be implemented, including changes to fees and service levels.

“I appreciate the outpouring of support for the program from families and thank them for their passion for the community,” said Vanderkwaak. “I know this was a difficult process. We have a duty to make sure services are aligned with the priorities and interests of the entire community.”

Administration will develop a plan to reduce the shortfall between program funding and the cost to the City for delivering child care. The specifics of the plan will be communicated to families once finalized.

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Media contact:

Mike Berezowsky
Director, Communications & Information Technology Services
780-243-0458
mike.berezowsky@beaumont.ab.ca