How Ohio’s Budget Impacts Children

Access to high-quality early learning experiences and fundamental supports that allow children to grow up healthy are imperative for the success of our communities.

Research shows that children who can access quality child care are less likely to enter Kindergarten behind and more likely to perform better throughout their schooling beyond Kindergarten. This increases high school graduation rates, creates a more prepared workforce, and improves outcomes for entire communities.?

Investing in children early creates a strong foundation for their success later in life. When children have access to quality child care, it saves our economy on things like special education funding because they need less attention later in their schooling, and criminal justice because children who receive quality child care are less likely to go to prison.

Investing in child care and foundational supports is investing in children, families, and communities – and it’s important for Ohio's budget to reflect that.

Ohio’s Executive Budget is drafted every two years and goes through an extensive legislative process for approval. ?

This biennial budget determines Ohio's fiscal priorities for the next two years through June 30th, 2025, and heavily impacts young children. This is what to look out for and advocate for at this point in the budget process – and why it’s so important to speak up now.?

The Governor first puts out his Executive Budget to the House of Representatives. In January, Governor DeWine proposed a budget that prioritizes children. Read the full "Investing In Bold Beginnings” Fact Sheet HERE.

Some quick funding highlights from the Executive Budget include:

• Over 15,000 more children in working families will have access to high-quality child care?
• A new $2,500 per child state tax deduction?
• Repealing sales tax on critical infant supplies like diapers, wipes, cribs, car seats, strollers, & safety equipment?
• Creating a new agency called the Ohio Department of Children and Youth by consolidating programs from six different state agencies?
• Installing a member of the Governor’s Cabinet who focuses exclusively on children’s issues?
• Scholarships to pay for child care for individuals in “critical occupations” including child care workers earning above 160% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level?
• Expanding efforts to reduce infant mortality and improve maternal health through evidence-based home visiting to serve nearly 10,000 additional families?
• Increasing early childhood education programs by $46,000,000 per year to serve an additional 11,500 children?

From our vantage point, this budget couldn’t be more important:?

• Child care programs and the families that depend on them are still struggling with challenges unleashed or amplified by the pandemic. Our Reckoning, Not Recovery report shows that half of child care providers surveyed are losing money and four out of five struggle with staffing. They’ve been forced to raise the tuition and fees they charge families, and families are feeling it. Any additional funding beyond the Executive Proposal should be directed to help solve child care for families and providers alike.?
• We’re encouraged by and support the Executive Budget Proposal. It will help more families, including those of child care workers,?afford quality child care and ease their financial burdens when paying for infant supplies like diapers and strollers. And we’re particularly eager to see the consolidation of programs affecting young children across six different agencies into one new Department of Children and Youth with a singular focus on doing more and better for all our children.?

While the budget process is underway, its outcome is not pre-determined. The next steps in the budget process include amendments from the House of Representatives and the Senate. Between now and?the beginning of April, the House will be changing aspects of the Governor’s budget to create a revised budget that must be approved by the Finance Committee and sent to the Senate. ?

Throughout this budget process, all of us – as parents, guardians, child care professionals, and child care advocates – must remember to be aware of what’s going on and use our voices.

So, post on social media, contact your representative (find your representative here ) and share this information with friends and family.?By advocating for children and activating others to do so, you are helping to advance the future of our youngest learners.?

Author: Shea McHugh, Policy Intern at Action for Children

Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.

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