COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio’s next budget has been introduced, and Gov. Mike DeWine has prioritized childcare and preparing children early for later success in life.
The governor announced he’s expanding his childcare voucher program to thousands more working families who are having trouble affording daycare.
“Today, for a family with two children in childcare, on average, the first $11 of every hour work by the parent is being used to cover childcare expenses,” DeWine said.
The budget also emphasizes improving the literacy of pre-K and kindergarten students.
According to the governor’s office, the budget also provides “opportunities for parents to take part in Ohio’s workforce through a refundable child tax credit” of $1,000 per child through age 6.
“The child credit we’re creating, it’s totally funded, totally funded, but I think by just the increase in the cigarette tax,” DeWine said.
The cigarette tax increase is $1.50 per pack of cigarettes.
“That will have an effect on people’s wallets, right, and they’ll feel that, and so we should have programs in place to help those people who want to quit actually quit,” American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Ohio Government Relations Director Leo Almeida said.
The effort, Almeida said, should save the state money in the long run.
“We spend $6.56 billion in expenditures related to tobacco-related illness and about $1.8 billion of that comes from our Department of Medicaid,” he said.
DeWine also proposed taking sports betting tax dollars and funding pro sports stadiums and sports education programs.
“Look, Ohio citizens are giving millions of dollars every single day to the sports gaming companies,” DeWine said. “This would make them pay their fair share. They will still have plenty of money to make.”
The budget also includes $380 million for Ohio’s roadways and $100 million for family housing in rural areas.
Additionally, according to the governor’s office, the budget:
- Promote access to children’s physical and mental health including literacy, vision care, and other programs.
- Encourage talented Ohioans to keep their talents in Ohio as they forge careers in the most in-demand job industries.
- Support Ohio’s law enforcement agencies with investments in more efficient and reliable emergency services and accessible, affordable training.
- Protect and improve water quality throughout Ohio.
The governor also said state workers would return to their office full-time, but did not have a timeframe for when that would happen.
The budget will now move onto the Ohio Statehouse for debate and changes before landing back on DeWine’s desk, where he has line-item veto power. He has until the end of June to sign the budget into law.
To review the full proposed budget, click here.