Guest Commentary: First 5 Too Good for Government

By Linda Seifert
Solano County Supervisor, District 2. 

First 5 was approved by California’s voters in November 1998 and funded with a 50-cent-per-pack tobacco tax, making it possible to focus for the first time on young children’s healthy development in meaningful and measurable ways. 

The presumed elegantly simple First 5 structure – local control, accountability and subject only to the voters, not the politicians – has long been a thorn in the side of government looking for money to balance an out of control budget deficit. After two failed ballot initiatives to change First 5, state officials are now attempting  to bypass the voters altogether and take $1 billion from First 5s directly with their legislative authority—something the creators of this measure did all they could to avoid.

This move will almost certainly subject the state to costly litigation.  It will also leave hundreds of thousands of California’s infants, toddlers and preschoolers without medical and dental care, child care for their working parents, quality preschool to stem the overwhelming dropout rate, and other vital services.  In Solano County alone where $4M is leveraged to $9M in funds, First 5 stands to lose $8M of its carefully saved and managed reserves.  In addition, 62 local jobs could be lost and 12,500 children and families could be without services.

The sad reality is that First 5 is government at its best, as it was meant to be—local, enduring, strategic, cost effective, flexible, responsive, comprehensive and accountable.  . 

• It’s local.  First 5 gives parents and community residents a voice and power they never had before.  This voice has weighed in twice in favor of preserving First 5.  Tired of the results from asking them, our legislature has now decided to bypass voters.
• It lasts.  First 5s spread their money out so it does the most good for the longest time. Commissions make multi-year commitments and help build community capacity. Unspent funds are saved for a “rainy day” and to ensure the wisest uses.
• It’s strategic and cost-effective.  First 5 commissions leverage their precious dollars to draw additional funding into communities.  They use these funds to keep kids out of foster care, pay children’s health insurance premiums and catch learning disabilities early.  First 5s save the state far more than it realizes, but that fact is going unrecognized by a legislature that seems primed to dismantle one of its clear successes.
• It’s flexible and responsive.  First 5 works closely with local partners such as family resource centers, and many quickly increased funding beginning in 2008 to help our neighbors and fellow residents hit by what turned out to be the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression.  First 5 has both the means and the model to practice good government in times of need as well as times of prosperity.
• It’s comprehensive.  Children live in families, and families live in communities.  Kids who get a healthy start and attend preschool are more likely to graduate from high school, go to college and get better jobs.  This is how First 5 works. Fragmented, costly services will result should the legislature get its way.
• It’s accountable.  First 5 funds evidence-based services.  Outcomes are closely tracked and programs actually stop if they aren’t working. First 5 commissions are thoroughly audited each and every year. How many state programs can stack up to that level of scrutiny?

The framers of Proposition 10 did all they could to built a firewall between First 5 and the vast needs of state government.  They purposefully directed 80% of First 5 money to the local level, to ensure accountability and long-term commitment, and they made it a statewide program, intending benefit to both the state and counties.  They created a new funding stream to keep the existing state budget whole.  And they gave the power to the people—and only the people--to change it as they see fit.

By choosing to seize $1 billion of First 5 funds, state officials compromised some very fundamental principles of good government.