AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills' office announced Friday pay increases that will benefit approximately 7,000 child care workers across Maine.
A news release from the governor's office states the pay increases serve as the first round of increased and tiered monthly stipends for child care workers in the state, offering $275 for the first tier, $415 for the second tier, and $625 for the third tier, based on education and experience. The increases were reportedly effective as of November of last year.
An additional $100 per month will be issued to child care workers in the third tier to "compensate for the additional amount they are owed retroactive to the start of the state fiscal year," the release stated.
Beginning in state fiscal year 2024, state law mandates the tiered system must provide at minimum three tiers based on workers' education and experience. The tiers are bound to specific ratios of salary supplements, number of workers per tier, and available funding.
The monthly increase in pay is intended to keep qualified professionals working in the state, and is a continued effort beginning in September 2021, the governor's office said in the release. The stipends are reportedly funded through the current biennial budget and are provided through the Early Childhood Educator Workforce Salary Supplement System.
"Maine parents need high-quality child care to support the growth, education, and safety of their children and to ensure that they are able to join and stay in the workforce," Mills said in the release. "These new enhanced and tiered stipends, the result of investments from my Administration and the Legislature, will help attract and retain more of the qualified workers we need to expand the availability and affordability of child care while strengthening our economy in the process."