The Source for Navy News
Child Care Rates Increase 1.5 Percent for Navy Region Europe
Story Number: NNS041013-03
Release Date: 10/13/2004 10:09:00 PM
By Journalist 1st Class Eileen Kelly Fors, Commander, Navy Region Europe Public Affairs
NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Childcare fees in the European theater will increase by an average of $1.33 per week beginning Nov. 1.
The increase of 1.5 percent reflects the regional state of inflation and continues to keep Navy Region Europe at the lower end of the band of childcare prices Navywide. This and a few other policy changes affect all families who use the Child Development Center, School Age Care and Child Development Homes programs for full or part-time care.
“Every year, DOD [Department of Defense] takes a look at inflation and all of those kind of factors, and gives us some parameters on how to adjust the fees. And in the last two years, the increase has been 1.5 percent,” said Larry Warnken, regional program manager for Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
“Since 1988, the Europe theater has been the lowest of all the regions in the Navy,” said Warnken. “Our region has always been in the lowest band -- at the very bottom. You couldn’t charge any less. And that’s just what we’ve done this time, as well.”
For families earning $34-44,000 per year, childcare fees will increase from $67 to $68 per week.
The Navy Personnel Command (NPC) also changed various childcare administrative policies.
In the European region, all families currently receive a 20 percent discount for any additional children in daycare. As of Nov. 1, the 20 percent discount will only be applied to the two lowest income categories; and a 10 percent discount will be applied for the third lowest category. Families in the three upper categories, incomes ranging from $44,001 to more than $70,000, will not receive multi-child discounts.
The vacation policy also has updates that affect the theater. In accordance with the new NPC policies, the vacation time has been cut from four weeks to two weeks.
“What we had to do, according to the new policy, is reduce from four weeks to two weeks on the vacation freebie, and that is only if you choose to hold your spot,” said Warnken. “You can take your four-week vacation. No one is stopping anyone from doing that, but the discount enables you to keep your spot and not pay for up to two weeks.”
The hourly drop-in fee will increase from $2.75 to $3 throughout the Navy.
According to Warnken, Navy Region Europe has maintained its childcare fees below the Navy average in recognition of it forward-deployed status and higher costs of living overseas.
For related news, visit the Commander, Navy Region Europe Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cnre.
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