Council Member Rocque Perez leads decision to return investment into early childhood education funding

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Council Member Rocque Perez played a key role in restoring funding for the Pima Early Education Program Scholarships (PEEPs), helping secure approximately $250,000 in City support for the county-operated early education program after it faced elimination in the proposed budget.

During Council deliberations, Perez led the recall of the funding vote and worked to verify alternative funding sources to prevent a complete cut to the program. He also personally committed $50,000 from Ward 5 discretionary funds — the largest single ward contribution toward the restored allocation — to help close the gap and ensure the program could continue serving Tucson families.

The restored funding includes approximately $250,000 that had originally been set aside for the Erik Hite Foundation to support childcare solutions for public safety employees. After confirming directly with the Foundation that it had no objection to redirecting those funds, Perez helped facilitate the transfer to support PEEPs instead.

The Pima Early Education Program Scholarships, operated by Pima County since 2021, provides childcare assistance to working families across Tucson. In prior years, the City had contributed approximately $750,000 annually to the program. The City Manager’s recommended fiscal budget had proposed eliminating the City’s contribution entirely.

Perez emphasized the importance of continuity and stability for families relying on childcare assistance, particularly during a period of broader budget constraints.

“Early education is foundational to workforce stability and economic mobility,” Perez said. “When families can’t access childcare, they can’t go to work. Supporting PEEPs is not just about early learning — it’s about keeping our local economy functioning and giving children a strong start.”

Councilmember Paul Cunningham proposed restoring between $325,000 and $335,000 in total city funding, arguing that cutting the program off entirely would undermine the City’s long-standing commitment to early childhood investment. The Council ultimately approved a reduced allocation of roughly half the City’s previous annual contribution, providing at least one more year of funding while longer-term discussions continue.

Perez noted that restoring funding required coordination, negotiation, and identification of viable alternatives within the existing budget structure.

“We had to do the work to find the dollars,” Perez said. “It wasn’t enough to say the program mattered — we had to identify where the funding could responsibly come from and make sure our partners were aligned.”

The Council’s action ensures that PEEPs will continue serving families for the coming year, preventing an abrupt loss of childcare scholarships that could have affected working parents and young children throughout Tucson.