The cost of living in San Diego is putting a financial strain on young military families.

Budgets are stretched, and many cannot afford preschool for their children.

However, a local lawmaker hopes to change that.

Many young children of military families will soon be ready to swap their long days of play for preschool.

The military wives and mothers are certainly eager to send them.

Vyette Burton said her son is more than ready.

“I would like to see him in preschool so he can learn more and interact with kids more,” Burton said.

Some military families live in housing near preschools but are unable to get their children in.

In the case of Bay Point State preschool, the school is not filled up.

“There are three classrooms, and only one is being used right now,” said Sara Birka.

Birka is one of the few moms in a local military neighborhood with a child in the preschool.

“He’s learning letters, numbers and socializing with other kids. Not everyone is able to have access to the program,” said Birka.

Others cannot access the program because the military pays for their housing, which is counted as income. That means the families make too much money to qualify for the preschool program.

“That money is forfeited, and you’re not allowed to touch it. It should not be counted,” said military mom Liza Nelson.

The families’ military housing allowance takes them just past for the income limit for the free state-run preschool, and most can’t afford the high-cost of preschool.

“Often it’s a single-income household in a high cost city, which is why they supplement with a housing allowance,” said State Assemblymember Lori Saldana.

Saldana has introduced Assembly Bill 170, which would exclude the military’s basic housing allowance so low-income military families are eligible for state-funded preschool.

“The fact that many of these families live on the edge means any bill to help them, I’ll be pushing for,” said Saldana.

“It would be extremely beneficial to a lot of people in this neighborhood,” said Nelson.

Military mom Kellie Uribe said, “A lot of people in this neighborhood would benefit because we could get out and get jobs to help provide for our families.”

If Saldana’s bill passes, it would go into effect in January 2008.