PHOENIX -- The Arizona Department of Health Services’ planned rate changes for new and renewed child care licenses fees dramatically increase the cost for close to 2,000 state child care facilities.

“I just wonder if the state of Arizona would like to put the private provider out of business. Because they're sure doing a good job of it,” Mary Sue Watson said, the executive director of Campus and Premiere Management, which runs three child care centers in Phoenix.

The Department of Health Services plans to charge between $581 to $13,442 for a child care license, depending on the number of children.

The current three-year licensing fee is $150.

That would mean Watson, who currently pays $450 for her licenses, would now owe about $34,000.

“It just boggles my mind,” Watson said. “It would all need to be passed on to parents.”

“None of us want to do this,” William Humble, Arizona Department of Health Services Director said. The fact of the matter is if we're going to continue to run an inspection program to make sure kids are safe. We're going to have to find the money somehow.”

Humble said Gov. Jan Brewer and state lawmakers cut the amount of money used to inspect and regulate child care centers in half this year.

“The only alternative is to just say we're not going to do it any more. I think that's an unacceptable choice,” Humble said.

“They need to re-do their budget again,” Dina Dominguez, a single mother of two said. “We're humble people just trying to make a living, and I don't think we deserve this.”

Her daughter Hope, 6, and son Daniel, 2, attend Children’s Campus, Watson’s child care centers on Camelback and 35th Avenue.

"Leaving my kids here is like leaving them with family. I wouldn't trust them with anyone else,” Dominquez.

However, she may have to. If Watson increase the cost for child care because of the new licensing fees, Dominguez said she will find another caregiver for her kids.

"I wouldn't be able to afford it,” she said.

The new child care licensing fees would take effect Jan. 1.

There are two public meetings in Phoenix and Tucson later this month.

For more information about the fees and the meetings, go back to our homepage and click on “Saw It On CBS 5.”