SAN ANTONIO -- Mayor Julian Castro is asking voters to approve a 1/8th cent sales tax increase to make sure 4,000 more 4-year-olds in San Antonio have access to Pre-K education. But State Representative Lyle Larson says the mayor's plan is simply going to cost too much.
Right now, the state spends roughly $3,600 per Pre-K student a year. Larson says the mayor's option for San Antonio would spend 3 times that amount, or more than $11,000 per 4-year-old. He says if the program needs to happen, the city should just use the money already available.
"Just use the Head Start money and design your own program that you want to focus, the 2300 kids that you are saying were missing every year in Pre-K," Larson said.
Pre-K 4 SA supporters say Larson's numbers are off, that the average cost of Pre-K right now is closer to $6,000 or $7,000 per child. They admit the cost for those in Pre-K 4 SA would be higher but say it would include more and better programs.
