Parent fees at child care centers will be adjusted

Starting in the new year, municipal daycare centers will therefore charge the regular parental fee in accordance with the applicable fee schedule. The Erlangen City Council made this decision at its meeting on October 29. Private providers within the city limits have also announced that they will not compensate families for the loss of the subsidy.

Legal Basis Amended

The background to this is the reform of the Bavarian Child Education and Care Act (BayKiBiG), which was passed by the Bavarian State Parliament on July 22. It will take effect on January 1, 2027. With this reform, the previous legal basis for the parental fee subsidy will be eliminated. Continuing the subsidy—in whole or in part—would therefore be a voluntary benefit provided by the City of Erlangen. Under the provisions of provisional budget management pursuant to Article 69 of the Bavarian Municipal Code, which apply to the city, such a benefit would not be possible. In the future, state subsidies will be reallocated to operating cost support for child care facilities.

Additional revenue flows into all areas of childcare

According to calculations by the City of Erlangen, municipal child care facilities will generate annual additional revenue of approximately 720,000 euros. These funds will benefit all areas of care, from infant care to after-school care, and will specifically support improved staff-to-child ratios as well as continuing education and professional development initiatives. Fees for nurseries, learning centers, after-school care centers, and meals will remain unchanged. Families can still apply to have their parental contributions covered if the financial burden is deemed unreasonable according to the legal requirements.