Santa Rosa Assembly Candidate Aims to Pay His Mother's Early Learning 'Nonprofit' With Our Tax Dollars as He Advocates for New Sonoma County Childcare Tax
Michele Rogers, Santa Rosa Councilman Chris Rogers' mother, is the Executive Director and President for Early Learning Institute
Santa Rosa Councilman Chris Rogers is currently running for an open seat in CA Assembly D2 against Mr. Michael Greer.
On April 26, 2021, KSRO hosted both Mr. Rogers and his mother to discuss the importance of child development during the ages of 2 to 5 years old and how the pandemic has impacted young children.
You may not have been aware that Mr. Rogers’ mother, Ms. Michele Rogers is indicated as the ‘President’ of Early Learning Institute (ELI). According to the 2023 IRS Form 990 for the fiscal period of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, Ms. Rogers worked 60 hours a week with a salary of $166,704.
The Form 990 did not itemize any Board Members besides:
Michele Rogers - appears to be serving as Executive Director & Board President
Ila Sherman - Secretary
Tahema Wilson - Treasurer
The nonprofit is legally registered as Fostering Early Learning Institute. As of September 5, 2024, Ms. Rogers was listed as the Chief Executive Officer on the Statement of Information submitted to the California Secretary of State.
In most states it is legal for executive directors, chief executive officers, or other paid staff to serve on their organizations' governing boards. However, it is not considered a good practice because it is a natural conflict of interest for executives to serve equally on the entity that supervises them.
Mr. Rogers is currently advocating for a new Sonoma County tax through Measure I, Our Kids Our Future campaign.
ELI is listed as one of the organizational endorsements in support of Measure I.
Mr. Leo Buc’s firm, Breakaway Political was hired to help push the Measure forward.
Mr. Rogers campaign filings for his 2024 Assembly run indicate that he hired Breakaway Political as his campaign consultant.
Measure I, the “Sonoma Child Care and Children’s Health Initiative” (“Initiative”) would impose a transactions and use tax at the rate of 0.25% on the sale and use of tangible personal property within the County of Sonoma (“County”), including the incorporated and unincorporated areas. The tax would provide funding for (1) child care, preschool and early childhood education for low- and middle-income children and families in Sonoma County, and (2) the local children’s health care safety net. Proceeds from the tax would be placed in a special fund, designated as the “Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Fund (“Fund”).
The proposed ordinance states:
(a) Proceeds from the Tax shall be used exclusively to increase access to high-quality child care, preschool, and early education services to benefit low- and middle-income children and families in Sonoma County; to improve wages and compensation for child care providers and early educators who provide those services; to maintain and protect the availability and accessibility of local health and mental health care services that are specific to the unique needs of infants, toddlers and pediatric patients; and to support the efficient administration of Tax proceeds.
(b) Proceeds from the Tax shall be deposited into the County treasury in a special fund entitled the Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Fund (the "Fund"). Monies deposited into the Fund, together with any interest that accrues thereon, shall be governed by and subject to the requirements set forth in Section 12-61.
In each year, one hundred percent (100%) of revenue generated by the Tax, after providing for the costs to administer and operate the Tax pursuant to subdivision (e) of this section, together with any interest that accrues thereon, shall be 5 appropriated by the Board of Supervisors for the following purposes and consistent with the Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Program Plan and Budget (the "Plan"):
(1) Sixty percent (60%) of the annual revenue shall be allocated to the following:
(A) To increase the number of low- and middle-income children from birth through age five with access to safe, nurturing, affordable, and high-quality child care, preschool, and early education services across the county, with priority for children who (1) are homeless, (2) are from historically underserved communities, or (3) have other high priority needs as designated in the Plan.
(B) To improve the compensation and benefits of child care providers and early educator employees by providing rate increases, workforce development supports and enhancements.
(C) To develop, maintain, upgrade, and expand, as needed, early care and education facilities.
(D) For reasonable expenditures of the Administering Agency for the efficient administration of the Fund, including the obligations imposed by this Ordinance. The Administering Agency may reserve funds received in one or more fiscal years to address anticipated fluctuations in revenue in subsequent fiscal years.
(2) Forty percent (40%) of the annual revenue shall be allocated to the following:
(A) To assure the financial viability of the local children's health and mental health care safety net and its accessibility, including the expansion of specialized staff that provide perinatal, pediatric and pediatric subspecialty screening, assessment, referral and treatment of trauma, complex illnesses and conditions, and other health problems, without regard to insurance status or their ability to pay; and
(B) To explore, pilot and implement innovative programs that enable pediatric patients and their families to better access community-based, pediatric health care and mental health services, including perinatal mental health, and that enhance the effectiveness of such services.
The Initiative designates the First 5 Sonoma County Commission (“Commission”) as the Administering Agency, subject to change by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
According to ELI’s website, they are partnered with the First 5 for The Consultation Project.
The Consultation Project has proudly partnered with Sonoma County’s childcare and preschool community since 2001. Through the generous funding of First 5 Sonoma County, the Consultation Project provides FREE and confidential consultation to childcare providers and preschool teachers serving children birth through age 5 who have not yet begun Kindergarten. Our team of consultants include: mental health clinicians, early childhood education specialists, early interventionists, occupational therapists and parent educators. We work collaboratively with childcare providers, preschool teachers and families to address behavioral, developmental, mental health, or family issues. We help facilitate positive relationships with parents and develop collaborative goals and action plans to address the needs of the child, family and program. While we often focus on the needs of a specific child, consultation builds the capacity of teachers and providers to work with all children.
Mr. Rogers recently stated that he believes my life is ‘really sad and pathetic’. However, if he and his mother happen to be embezzling from taxpayers by abusing his position on local agencies, that better fits the definition of ‘pathetic’.
Is Councilman Rogers advocating for Measure I because the funds will be disbursed to his immediate family. With non-existent financial oversight through a non-legitimate board at ELI, can the taxpayers trust Mr. Rogers and his mother? Do these taxes financially benefit the taxpayers, or our elected officials and consultants promoting the measures?
Please vote for Mr. Greer in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
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