Utah's Noon News

A decision by the Salt Lake County Council to close county-run daycare facilities has sparked some serious outrage and concern today. Many say the decision leaves parents in the lurch, many saying that finding a new daycare before the county-run ones close at the end of the year is impossible in today's world. But county leaders who support the closures say it's simply a financial decision, one they hope will help prevent a proposed 20% property tax increase in the county. In this deep-dive, host Maria Shilaos examines the issue from all sides. To provide the "for" argument, she speaks with Salt Lake County Councilmember Laurie Stringham. For the "against" side of the argument, she hears from another Salt Lake County Councilmember, Jiro Johnson. Maria takes it one step further, getting to the heart of the story with a parent whose children would be affected by the closure, Cristina Llamas. Llamas also brings up concerns with how the closures could affect the community in which she lives.