PORTLAND (AP) - The cost of child care in Oregon has risen about 35 percent in the last decade, but relatively few day care slots are available for the children of working parents, according to a new report released today.

In the annual "State of Oregon's Children" factbook, compiled by the nonprofit Children First for Oregon, child care affordability moved into the spotlight.

Researchers found that in the 2000 tax year, only 16 Oregon businesses took advantage of the state's tax break for employers who provide day-care assistance to employees.

And a state program that provides day care assistance to the children of the working poor is serving just 20 percent of those eligible to participate, according to the report's data.

Child care costs take other tolls as well. According to the report, the average income for an Oregon family with children is $46,350 per year. But, the report said, about 65 percent of Oregon families who make less than that spend more than 10 percent of their income on child care.

Children First officials listed several suggestions for improving Oregon's child-care system, including:

€ Getting more businesses to use the state's tax credit program for employee child care assistance.

€ Strengthening the state's own child care assistance program for the children of the working poor.

€ Encouraging more private sector investment in child care.

But save for the last suggestion, child care advocates face a tough road. Polls indicate that voters in February are likely to overturn an $800 million temporary tax increase backed by legislators. The money raised by the temporary increase was intended to make up for Oregon's sliding revenue during the state's recent economic downturn.

If the tax increase is voted down, social services, public safety and education are all likely to absorb significant cuts, even though recent job figures show that Oregon's economy may be on the mend.

The study did contain some bright news for Oregon: teen pregnancy rates dropped 13 percent from the previous year, with just 27.6 girls per 1,000 between the ages of 15 and 17 giving birth.

But it also said that more than 80,000 children in Oregon have no health insurance, despite public health program that are supposed to cover children in low-income families.