GARDEN GROVE : Day-Care Permit Fee Trimmed to $150

Operators of home day-care centers with seven or more children received a break this week when the City Council voted to reduce a onetime permit fee from $1,250 to $150.

About 25 day-care operators protested the fee, which the city initiated in March. They asked the council to either lower or eliminate what they called an “exorbitant” fee.

Many of the day-care operators said the permit fee was so expensive that it would have forced them to shut down or reduce the number of children under their care to six--a number that does not require an additional permit from the city.

“I couldn’t afford to pay the tax,” said Barbara Hallberg, a day-care operator. “I know a lot of women who would have had to close down because of it.”

“Someone needs to take a look at the fact that we’re taking care of the children in a safe and nurturing environment,” added Claudia Ward, a local day-care operator for 12 years.

A majority of the council was receptive to lowering the fee, acknowledging that day care was in high demand in the city.

“Instead of taxing these people, we should be helping them,” Councilman J. Tilman Williams said.

Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan cast the lone dissenting vote against the lower fee.

All home day-care facilities in the city that have seven or more children must obtain a special permit through the city, which involves a public hearing process to give neighbors an opportunity to voice their concerns.

“Obviously, there is some cost involved when processing these permits,” said Tina Peltzer, president of the Orange County Child Care Assn. “The city has come up with a very reasonable price.”