‘A financial hole’: York day care closing, blaming minimum wage hikes and other costs

YORK, Neb. (KLKN) — A York day care is set to close next month amid rising costs, including Nebraska’s minimum wage increases.

Bobbi Jo Becker, owner of Becker’s Busy Beez, said from snacks to staffing, everything is getting more expensive.

She said running her day care isn’t just a job; it’s a passion.

But come Aug. 15, she will be closing her doors for good.

“We were digging ourselves further into a financial hole,” Becker said.

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As Nebraska’s minimum wage increases, Becker said between higher prices, keeping up with the state’s licensing requirements and paying her employees a fair wage, she’s barely breaking even.

Child care providers receive some money from the state, but Becker said it’s not enough.

“When it comes to state pay, it doesn’t even touch what our prices are, it doesn’t touch being able to help anything,” she said. “You can’t claim the kid if they’re not there for the day, so like we have one kid who hasn’t been to day care in a month and a half, and so that’s a month and a half of me not getting paid.”

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To keep her doors open, she said she would need to raise her rates from $220 a week to somewhere between $300 to $400.

Becker said she understands the need for fair pay but said the higher minimum wage is hitting small day cares like hers hard.

She said two other child care centers in York are considering shutting down.

“The largest day care in York doesn’t know what she’s going to do,” Becker said. “She doesn’t have a plan. She’s kind of panicking because she doesn’t know if she’s going be able to stay open or not.”

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Becker even got a second job to try to stay afloat so families wouldn’t have to scramble for other options.

A mother told Channel 8 she’s heartbroken about the closing.

She’s been with the day care since it opened three years ago, but now she’s looking for other options.

SEE ALSO: Business owner says Nebraska’s minimum wage increase will have unintended effects

“It’s not easy to shut down,” Becker said. “I mean, I’m putting my employees out of a job.”

She’ll also miss the kids.

“These are kids who I’ve put my heart and soul into helping raise,” she said. “I mean, I love these kids like they’re my own.”