Many families who rely on assistance to help pay for childcare have been waiting to find out whether or not the aid will come this summer.
For now, it looks they will have to wait even longer.
Last year, as a result of an $86M budget shortfall, cuts were made to the Childcare Assistance Program - affecting many low-income families throughout Kentucky. In April, care providers and parents alike were elated to learn that the cuts would be restored. Hearts sank again Thursday, however, when the community found out that they would need to wait even longer.
"This is just a classic case where you've got moms and dads in Lexington deciding 'Can I go back to work and put my child in quality care? Or am I going to have to quit the job I have because I can't keep affording it?'" Kentucky Youth Advocates director Terry Brooks says.
The legislature has allocated an additional $38.6M to the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, and a proposed $58.1M for the 2016 fiscal year.
Part of the reason for the delay is that the Cabinet has been trying to work out if they can afford to accept a higher income cut off in the first fiscal year.